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Kerker Family History

Kerker Name Meaning

South German: variant of Kercher (see Karcher), but also from the dialect word Kerker ‘prison’ (Latin carcer), hence a metonymic occupational name for a prison warder or possibly a topographic name. North German: topographic name for someone who lived near a church, from Low German kerke ‘church’, or possibly an occupational name from a reduced form of Low German Kerkener ‘sexton’. Sorbian topographic name for someone living near bushes, from Sorbian kerk ‘bush’, ‘undergrowth’. Dutch: topographic name for someone who lived by a dungeon, Dutch kerker.

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


Similar surnames: Kerner, Berner, Recker, Merker, Karner, Reker, Kerper, Kemper, Kelker

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 Kerker family from?

You can see how Kerker families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kerker family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kerker families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 6 Kerker families living in New York. This was about 60% of all the recorded Kerker's in USA. New York had the highest population of Kerker families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kerker 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 Kerker ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Secretary were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kerker. 16% of Kerker men worked as a Farmer and 19% of Kerker women worked as a Secretary. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kerker were Clerk and Waitress. .

View Census Data for Kerker | 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
    16%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Salesman
    10%
  • Clerk
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Secretary
    19%
  • Clerk
    19%
  • Stenographer
    13%
  • Waitress
    13%
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What Kerker family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Kerker. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kerker census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Kerker

Passenger Lists

There are 701 immigration records available for the last name Kerker. 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 Kerker immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 655 military records available for the last name Kerker. For the veterans among your Kerker ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kerker military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kerker family history

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What is the average Kerker lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Kerker life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Kerker in 1958 was 47, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kerker

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