Find out how popular the last name Keefer is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Keefer.

Keefer, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Keefer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keefer in America

Keefer is the 3713th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keefer surname appeared 9,552 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Keefer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keefer to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Keefer

The surname Keefer has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the German word "küfer," which refers to a person who makes or repairs wooden casks, barrels, or tubs. The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the German town of Esslingen in 1283, where a certain "Conrad der Kufer" is mentioned in official records.

In the 14th century, the name Keefer began appearing in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. During this period, it was often spelled as "Kufer" or "Kuffer." The name's association with the coopers' trade made it a common occupational surname among those involved in the production and maintenance of wooden vessels.

The Keefer surname is also found in historical records from the Netherlands and Switzerland, where it is believed to have been introduced by German immigrants or traders. In the Dutch city of Amsterdam, a registry from 1492 mentions a "Jan Kuyffer," which is likely an early variant of the name.

As the Keefer family spread across Europe, the name underwent various spelling changes, including "Keffer," "Kiefer," and "Küffer." One notable individual bearing this surname was Johann Kiefer (1616-1690), a German Lutheran theologian and writer who authored several religious works.

In the 17th century, the Keefer surname made its way to America, where it was often anglicized to "Keefer" or "Keffer." Among the earliest recorded instances is that of Hans Kiefer, who arrived in Pennsylvania from Germany in 1732.

Over the centuries, the Keefer name has been associated with a number of notable individuals, including:

1. Johann Kiefer (1616-1690), German Lutheran theologian and writer.
2. Samuel Keffer (1725-1789), American soldier and Indian agent during the Revolutionary War.
3. Charles Kiefer (1824-1892), German-American architect who designed several prominent buildings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
4. Ludwig Kiefer (1846-1923), German painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes.
5. Walter Keefer (1914-1986), American actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.

While the Keefer surname has its roots in the German language and the coopers' trade, it has since become an established surname in many countries around the world, with a rich history spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keefer

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Keefer.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Keefer was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Keefer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Keefer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Keefer, please contact us.

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