History of your Surname
Get access to Reffer family records.Start a free trial

Reffer Family History

Reffer Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Reifer, Reffner, Renfer, Peffer, Ruffer, Reefer, Feffer, Keffer

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 Reffer family from?

You can see how Reffer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Reffer family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Reffer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there was 1 Reffer family living in Pennsylvania. This was about 50% of all the recorded Reffer's in USA. Pennsylvania and 1 other state had the highest population of Reffer families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Reffer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Reffer ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Reffer. 36% of Reffer men worked as a Laborer and 100% of Reffer women worked as a Housewife. .

View Census Data for Reffer | 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

  • Laborer
    36%
  • Labor
    18%
  • Clerk
    12%
  • Farm Laborer
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    100%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Reffer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 557 census records available for the last name Reffer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Reffer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Reffer

Passenger Lists

There are 34 immigration records available for the last name Reffer. 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 Reffer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 105 military records available for the last name Reffer. For the veterans among your Reffer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Reffer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Reffer family history

Discover More

What is the average Reffer lifespan?

Between 1966 and 1986, in the United States, Reffer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Reffer in 1966 was 81, and 64 in 1986.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Reffer

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Reffer family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Reffer last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial