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

Keffer, 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 Keffer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keffer in America

Keffer is the 9320th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keffer surname appeared 3,493 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Keffer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keffer 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 Keffer

The surname Keffer is believed to have originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "kever," which meant a small vat or vessel used for storing liquids. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who worked as coopers or barrel makers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keffer can be found in the Würzburg census records of 1428, which lists a Johannes Kever residing in the city. Another early reference is found in the Nürnberg archives from 1501, mentioning a Peter Keffer who was a member of the local guild of coopers.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Keffer began to spread across various regions of Germany, with variations in spelling emerging, such as Kaeffer, Kieffer, and Küffer. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In the late 18th century, Johann Georg Keffer (1737-1815) was a notable German composer and organist who served at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. His compositions, particularly his organ works, were highly regarded during his lifetime.

Another historical figure bearing the Keffer surname was Gottlob Keffer (1792-1857), a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on Christian apologetics and biblical studies.

As German immigration to the United States increased in the 19th century, the Keffer name began to appear in American records. One notable individual was John Keffer (1824-1905), who served as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and later became a prominent businessman in Illinois.

In the early 20th century, Frederick Keffer (1869-1938) was a renowned American sculptor known for his works adorning public buildings and monuments across the United States, including the iconic statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Overall, the surname Keffer has a rich history rooted in medieval Germany, initially associated with the occupation of barrel making. Over time, it has spread across various regions and continents, with notable individuals bearing the name making significant contributions in fields such as music, theology, military service, and art.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keffer

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

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 Keffer 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 Keffer 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 Keffer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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