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Kater Family History

Kater Name Meaning

Dutch and North German: nickname from Middle Dutch cater kater ‘tomcat’. North German: status name for a cottager from an agent derivative of Middle Low German kate ‘small house hut’ (with or without a small piece of land). Compare Kather . Scottish (Dumbartonshire): variant of Cater .

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


Similar surnames: Vater, Cater, Kuter, Rater, Kafer, Kaser, Kamer, Kalter, Water

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Kater family from?

You can see how Kater families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kater family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kater families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 2 Kater families living in New York. This was about 50% of all the recorded Kater's in USA. New York had the highest population of Kater families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kater surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Kater ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kater. 22% of Kater men worked as a Farmer and 22% of Kater women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kater were Salesman and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Kater | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    22%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Carpenter
    8%
  • Salesman
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    22%
  • Clerk
    17%
  • Housewife
    12%
  • Teacher
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Kater family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Kater. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kater census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Kater

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Kater. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kater immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 852 military records available for the last name Kater. For the veterans among your Kater ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kater military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kater family history

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What is the average Kater lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Kater life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Kater in 1956 was 51, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kater

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kater family tree

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