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Keller Family History

Keller Surname Meaning

German and Danish: from Middle High German kellaere ‘cellarman cellar master’ (from Latin cellarius denoting the keeper of the cella ‘store chamber pantry’). Hence an occupational name for the overseer of the stores accounts or household in general in for example a monastery or castle. Kellers were important as trusted stewards in a great household and in some cases were promoted to ministerial rank. This form of the surname is also established in many other parts of Europe e.g. in France (Alsace and Lorraine) Russia Hungary the Netherlands Poland Czechia and Croatia. English: occupational name from Middle English keller ‘maker of cauls or kells (women's close-fitting caps or headdresses)’ a derivative of Middle English calle kelle. Irish: variant of Kelleher .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Seller, Weller, Peller, Teller, Koller, Zeller, Feller, Kellner

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Keller family from?

You can see how Keller families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Keller family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Keller families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 301 Keller families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 33% of all the recorded Keller's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Keller families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Keller 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 Keller ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Keller. 13% of Keller men worked as a Farmer and 7% of Keller women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Keller were Clerk and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Keller | 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
    13%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Clerk
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    7%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Clerk
    5%
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What Keller family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 428,000 census records available for the last name Keller. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Keller census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Keller

Passenger Lists

There are 67,000 immigration records available for the last name Keller. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 129,000 military records available for the last name Keller. For the veterans among your Keller ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Keller lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Keller life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Keller in 1941 was 45, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Keller

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