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

Keiss Family History

Keiss 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: Weiss, Kiss, Heiss, Reiss, Deiss, Geiss, Zeiss, Neiss, Kniss, Meiss

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 Keiss family from?

You can see how Keiss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Keiss family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Keiss families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 2 Keiss families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 67% of all the recorded Keiss's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Keiss families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Keiss surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Keiss ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Keiss. 26% of Keiss men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Keiss women worked as an Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Keiss were Truck Driver and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Keiss | 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
    26%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Salesman
    15%
  • Truck Driver
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Operator
    50%
  • Housewife
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Keiss family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Keiss

Passenger Lists

There are 378 immigration records available for the last name Keiss. 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 Keiss immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 514 military records available for the last name Keiss. For the veterans among your Keiss ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Keiss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Keiss family history

Discover More

What is the average Keiss lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2003, in the United States, Keiss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1985, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Keiss in 1966 was 64, and 78 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Keiss

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Keiss family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Keiss last name

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