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Packer Family History

Packer Name Meaning

English: probably an occupational name for a wool packer from an agent noun derivative of Middle English pakken ‘to pack’. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from an agent noun derivative of Middle Low German pak German Pack ‘package’ hence an occupational name for a wholesale trader especially in the wool trade one who sold goods in large packages rather than broken down into smaller quantities or alternatively one who rode or drove pack animals to transport goods.

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


Similar surnames: Hacker, Picker, Acker, Parker, Tacker, Backer, Wicker, Ducker, Hucker

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Packer family from?

You can see how Packer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Packer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Packer families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 36 Packer families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 22% of all the recorded Packer's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Packer families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Packer 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 Packer ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Packer. 16% of Packer men worked as a Farmer and 9% of Packer women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Packer were Truck Driver and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Packer | 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
    16%
  • Laborer
    15%
  • Salesman
    8%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    9%
  • Stenographer
    7%
  • Maid
    6%
  • Teacher
    5%
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What Packer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 157,000 census records available for the last name Packer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Packer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Packer

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Packer. 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 Packer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 13,000 military records available for the last name Packer. For the veterans among your Packer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Packer military records

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What is the average Packer lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Packer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Packer in 1949 was 47, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Packer

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