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Geiss Family History

Geiss Name Meaning

variant of Geis. (southern) metonymic occupational name for a goatherd, from Middle High German geiz ‘goat’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Geist, Weiss, Deiss, Meiss, Geiser, Reis, Reiss, Gess, Neiss, Grass

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 Geiss family from?

You can see how Geiss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Geiss family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Geiss families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 6 Geiss families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 86% of all the recorded Geiss's in the USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Geiss families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Geiss 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 Geiss ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the US named Geiss. 16% of Geiss men worked as a Laborer and 14% of Geiss women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Geiss were Clerk and Seamstress.

View Census data for Geiss | 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
    16%
  • Salesman
    12%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Clerk
    10%

Top Female Occupations in 1940

  • Housewife
    14%
  • Stenographer
    10%
  • Clerk
    10%
  • Seamstress
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Geiss family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Geiss. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Geiss census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Geiss

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Geiss. 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 Geiss immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Geiss. For the veterans among your Geiss ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Geiss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Geiss family history.

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What is the average Geiss lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Geiss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Geiss in 1951 was 22, and 88 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Geiss

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