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Surface Family History

Surface Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Zerfas or its variant Zerfass. Compare Surfus.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Surface family from?

You can see how Surface families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Surface family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Surface families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 9 Surface families living in Virginia. This was about 39% of all the recorded Surface's in USA. Virginia had the highest population of Surface families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Surface surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Surface ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Surface. 23% of Surface men worked as a Farmer and 11% of Surface women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Surface were Salesman and Teacher.

View Census Data for Surface | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    23%
  • Laborer
    19%
  • Truck Driver
    7%
  • Salesman
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    11%
  • Cook
    9%
  • Maid
    9%
  • Teacher
    9%

What Surface family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Surface. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Surface census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Surface

Passenger Lists

There are 524 immigration records available for the last name Surface. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Surface immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Surface. For the veterans among your Surface ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Surface military records

You've only scratched the surface of Surface family history

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What is the average Surface lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Surface life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Surface in 1955 was 50, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Surface

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Surface ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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