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Kerner Family History

Kerner Name Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a farmer or a nickname for a physically small person from an agent derivative of Middle High German kerne ‘kernel seed pip’ German Kern or Yiddish kern ‘grain’. German: occupational name for a carter from Karren ‘cart’ (see Karner ). German: Alemannic occupational name for a baker using spelt (a type of wheat) or for a spelt dealer. German: variant of Körner (see Korner ). English (Surrey): occupational name from Middle English kerner a side-form of cherner churner ‘churner one who churns butter’. Compare Churn and Kern .

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


Similar surnames: Lerner, Berner, Kenner, Koerner, Karner, Kerzner, Kerker, Kelner

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Kerner family from?

You can see how Kerner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kerner family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kerner families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 3 Kerner families living in North Carolina. This was about 23% of all the recorded Kerner's in USA. North Carolina and 1 other state had the highest population of Kerner families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kerner 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 Kerner ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kerner. 12% of Kerner men worked as a Laborer and 10% of Kerner women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kerner were Clerk and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Kerner | 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
    12%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Salesman
    9%
  • Clerk
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    10%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Secretary
    7%
  • Clerk
    7%
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What Kerner family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Kerner. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kerner census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Kerner

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Kerner. 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 Kerner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Kerner. For the veterans among your Kerner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kerner military records

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What is the average Kerner lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Kerner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Kerner in 1942 was 25, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kerner

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