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Neff Family History

Neff Name Meaning

German and Swiss German: relationship name from Middle High German neve ‘nephew’ (later rather broader in application like cousin in English) hence probably a distinguishing name for a close relation or familiar of a prominent personage. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine). In North America this surname is also an altered form of the variant Naff . Dutch: variant of Neve cognate with 1 above. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from German Neffe ‘nephew’ cognate with 1 above. Shortened form of Irish McNeff (see McNiff ).

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


Similar surnames: Reff, Ney, Neef, Naff, Reiff, Neve, Netz, Off, Neal, Reif

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Neff family from?

You can see how Neff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Neff family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Neff families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 109 Neff families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 28% of all the recorded Neff's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Neff families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Neff 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 Neff ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Neff. 15% of Neff men worked as a Farmer and 8% of Neff women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Neff were Truck Driver and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Neff | 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
    15%
  • Laborer
    13%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    8%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Stenographer
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%
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What Neff family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 114,000 census records available for the last name Neff. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Neff census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Neff

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Neff. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 26,000 military records available for the last name Neff. For the veterans among your Neff ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Neff lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Neff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Neff in 1940 was 56, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Neff

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