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

Defer Family History

Defer Name Meaning

Altered form of French Dufour . French (northern): nickname from de fer ‘of iron’ probably for someone who was inflexible or remarkably tough. English (Middlesex): variant of Differ a Scottish name of uncertain meaning.

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


Similar surnames: Deger, Duffer, Demey, Lemer, Beger, Eber, Rener, Defee, Denyer, Keer

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 Defer family from?

You can see how Defer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Defer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Defer families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there was 1 Defer family living in Alabama. This was about 25% of all the recorded Defer's in USA. Alabama and 3 other states had the highest population of Defer families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Defer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Defer ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Defer. 38% of Defer men worked as a Laborer and 37% of Defer women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Defer were Mechanic and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Defer | 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
    38%
  • Farmer
    30%
  • Carpenter
    17%
  • Mechanic
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    37%
  • Waitress
    28%
  • Bookkeeper
    19%
  • Stenographer
    19%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Defer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Defer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Defer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Defer

Passenger Lists

There are 337 immigration records available for the last name Defer. 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 Defer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 622 military records available for the last name Defer. For the veterans among your Defer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Defer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Defer family history

Discover More

What is the average Defer lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Defer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1972. The average life expectancy for Defer in 1957 was 49, and 63 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Defer

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Defer family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Defer last name

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