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

Keffler, 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 Keffler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keffler in America

Keffler is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keffler surname appeared 113 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Keffler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keffler 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 Keffler

The surname Keffler has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "Keffel," which means "barrel" or "cask." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a profession or trade related to barrel-making or coopering.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents from the regions of Bavaria and Franconia in southern Germany. These records often referred to individuals with occupations such as "Keffler" or "Keffelmecher," indicating their connection to barrel-making or coopering activities.

One of the earliest known references to the Keffler name can be found in the 1438 tax records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain "Hans Keffler" was listed as a resident. This provides evidence that the name had already established itself in the region by the mid-15th century.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Keffler began to spread beyond its original geographic confines. Records from this period show individuals bearing the name in other parts of Germany, as well as in neighboring countries like Austria and Switzerland.

One notable figure from this era was Johann Keffler (1573-1624), a German theologian and author who served as a professor at the University of Tübingen. His works on theology and biblical exegesis were widely read and influential during his lifetime.

As the Keffler name continued to spread throughout Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Kefler, Keffeler, and Keffner. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and differences in pronunciation.

In the 18th century, a prominent bearer of the Keffler name was Johann Philipp Keffler (1715-1789), a German engraver and etcher known for his intricate landscapes and architectural prints. His works were highly sought after and can be found in many prestigious art collections.

Another notable figure from the same period was Johann Ludwig Keffler (1738-1821), a German jurist and legal scholar who served as a professor of law at the University of Göttingen. His writings on legal theory and jurisprudence were widely respected and influential in academic circles.

As the 19th century dawned, the Keffler name had become well-established across various regions of Germany and beyond. One individual of note was Johann Karl Keffler (1810-1876), a German painter and lithographer who specialized in portraiture and genre scenes.

It is worth mentioning that while the Keffler surname is most closely associated with its German origins, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of Europe and the world, likely through migration and intermarriage over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keffler

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

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

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

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