Show ContentsKieffer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Kieffer family

The surname Kieffer was first found in Bavaria, where the name Keifer was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Kieffer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kieffer research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kieffer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kieffer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Keifer, Kiefer, Keiffer, Kieffer, Kifers, Kiefers, Keiferes, Kieferes, Keiferr, Keiffers, Keefer, Geefer, Geifer and many more.

Early Notables of the Kieffer family

More information is included under the topic Early Kieffer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kieffer Ranking

In the United States, the name Kieffer is the 5,741st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Kieffer is ranked the 532nd most popular surname with an estimated 8,655 people with that name. [2]


United States Kieffer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kieffer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Wilhelm Kieffer, who arrived in New York with his wife Catharine and three children in 1709
  • Wilhelm Kieffer, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 [3]
  • Willhelm Kieffer, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 [3]
  • Johan William Kieffer, who landed in New York, NY in 1710-1714 [3]
  • Johann Wilhelm Kieffer, who landed in New York, NY in 1710 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kieffer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Kieffer, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1812-1813 [3]
  • Adam Kieffer, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1847 [3]
  • Fred Kieffer, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 [3]
  • J P Kieffer, who arrived in Iowa in 1870 [3]
  • John Kieffer, who landed in Iowa in 1882 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Kieffer (post 1700) +

  • Robert Leo Kieffer (1930-2017), American businessperson and politician, Member of the Maine Senate (1992-2000)
  • Susan Elizabeth Werner Kieffer (b. 1942), American physical geologist and planetary scientist
  • Charles Kieffer (1910-1975), American gold medalist rower at the 1932 Summer Olympics
  • Aldine Silliman Kieffer (1840-1904), American music writer
  • Howard Kieffer, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2004 [4]
  • E. F. Kieffer, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Iowa State Senate 46th District, 1948; Candidate for Iowa State House of Representatives from Plymouth County, 1950 [4]
  • Christian Kieffer, American politician, Mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1852-54 [4]
  • Philippe Kieffer (1899-1962), French naval officer
  • Oliver Kieffer (b. 1979), French bronze medalist volleyball player at the 2002 World Championships
  • Jean-Jacques Kieffer (1857-1925), French entomologist
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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