Family history

Family history

This family line has been traced back to my 8^th great-grandfather Anthoni Kiefer. Anthoni was born at the village of Blankenloch around 1668. Today Blankenloch is located within the Karlesruhe district of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. It appears that both his son Valentin Kieffer, Sr. and grandson Valentin, Jr. were also born at Blankenloch.

Valentin Kieffer, Jr. born in 1723 is credited as being the progenitor of this family line in America. It is most likely that Valentin was the Valentin Kiefer, a German Palatine, who arrived in America at Philadelphia aboard the ship Billender Townshend in October, 1737. By 1744 Valentin had settled in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and married a woman named Barbara. Of this union at least five known children were born between 1744 and 1753 including my 5^th great-grandmother Maria Barbara Kuffer.in 1749. Valentin passed away around in Lebanon County around 1775.

Maria Barbara was born 1749 in Lebanon County probably near the village of Fredericksburg in Bethel Township. She married Anthony Hauer, a native of Blankenloch, around 1766. Maria Barbara gave birth to eight known children between 1767 and 1790. It is most probable that Mara Barbara and Anthony Hauer continued to reside in or around Fredericksburg until there later removal to York County, Pennsylvania. In addition it is quite likely that they attended the Tulpehocken Reformed Church located in the easternmost part of Lebanon County in near Millardsville in Jackson Township near the border with Berks County, Pennsylvania. After the American Revolutionary War Maria Barbara and her family moved to Chanceford Township in York County. They may have moved because Anthony had family in this area. The Hauer family were members of Stehli's Church which today is known as St. Lukes Lutheran Church. Maria Barbara lived the remainder of her days in Chanceford Township and passed away around 1804.

Origins of the surname

With the passing of generations and the movement of families moved from place to place many of the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we are familiar with today. Over the centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an unchangeable part of their lives. Thus people rarely changed their surname. Variations of most surnames are usually the result of an involuntary act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an error in transcription.

Research into the record of this Kieffer family line indicates that the meaning and history of this surname is most likely linked to that area of Europe where the German* language is commonly spoken.

Meaning of the Name

Most of the modern family names throughout Europe have originated from with of the following circumstances: occupation (i.e., Carpenter, Cooper, Brewer, Mason); locational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland) or topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); nicknames (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise, Armstrong); and acquired ornamental names that were simply made up.

The Kieffer (Kueffer) comes from Kiefer which is a German occupational name for a maker or repairer of wooden vessels such as barrels, tubs, casks and vats, or the overseer of a wine cellar. The name is from an agent derivative of Middle High German kuofe ‘vat’, ‘barrel’ (from Latin cupa), or from an agent derivative of Middle High German kiffen ‘to quarrel’, hence a nickname for a bickerer.

Another meaning may be found in the Dutch surname Keffer which is a nickname meaning ‘bug’ or ‘beetle’.

History of the Name

This surname of Germanic origin was first found in Silesia, where the family gained a significant reputation for its contributions to the emerging mediaeval society. The name has spread throughout Europe and has been Anglicized to “Copper”. Early German recordings of this surname, and its variants, are found in Church Registers which include the marriage of Maria Kiff to Henrich Swenne at Sankt Clemens Katholisch, Telgte Stadt, Westfalen, on February 2nd 1677, and the marriage of Maria Kiff to Johannes Eluerick, in the same place on April 14th 1695. A notable person with this name was Gerard Peter Kuiper (1905-73), the Dutch-born American astronomer, born in Harenkarspel. Educated in Leiden, he moved to the United States in 1933.

Early Immigrants to North America

During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to North America. For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution. For most it was an opportunity for to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents. Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of Kieffer, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries. Some of these immigrants were: Johann Caspar Kuffer along with his wife Agnes Glockner and six children who came to Pennsylvania in 1748; Jacob Kuffer who arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1767; Wilhelm Kieffer, who arrived in New York with his wife Catharine and three children in 1709; Johann Leonhardt Kieffer, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1732;p and Theobald Kuffer, age 49 landed at Charles Town, South Carolina in 1732.

* German Surname Meanings & Origins

Many German names have their roots in the Germanic middle ages. The process of forming family names began around the year 1100 and extended through 1600. All social classes and demographic strata aided in the development of names. First Names (Rufnamen) identified specific persons. Over time the first name began to be applied to the bearer's whole family. At first through verbal usage, family names (Familiennamen) were later fixed through writing. Until the 17th century, first names played a more important role. The earliest family names derived from the first name of the first bearer (Patronym). Later names derived from the place of dwelling and location of the homestead. If a person of family migrated from one place to another they were identified by the place they came from. Of more recent origin are names derived from the vocation of profession of the first bearer. These names comprise the largest group and the most easily recognizable, for they tell what the first bearer did for a living. Another group are names derived from a physical or other characteristic of the first bearer. Finally, there are names that tell you the state or region a first bearer and his family came from; the age old division in tribes and regions (low German, middle German and upper German) is often reflected in names.

Family coat of arms

There are several coat of arms designs for the Kieffer family. The most prominent of the German versions exhibits a blue shield with red antlers and a red rose. There is no significant crest figure shown, nor has any family motto be identified.

A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution. Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname. A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname. Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee. The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry. Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a coat of arms are :

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms. The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry. Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms. At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object. The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants. As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized. Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families. Spelling variations of this family name may include: Kuffer, Kueffer, Keffer, Kuiper, Kupfermann, Kupper, Koppermann, Cooperman, Kiperman, Kuperbaum, Kuperboim, Kupferminc, Kiefer, Kiefner, Kufer, Kufler, Kufner, Kuffner, Kaufner, Kief, Kifer, Kieffer, Kieferle, Kieferl, Kiferlin, Kiever, Kiver, Kiverle, Kiverli, Kieferli, Kiffer, Kyfer, Kyefer, Kyffer, Kyferle and many others.

The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled. This is especially true when searching census documents. The Soundex system was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname. Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research. The Soundex Code for Kieffer (Kueffer) is K160. Other surnames sharing this Soundex Code: Kaiper | Keefer | Keever | Keffer | Keiper | Kiefer | Kieffer | Kiffer | Kober | Kuiper |.

Source: Surname Resources at ROOTSWEB

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Direct Ancestors

Descendant Register

Generation 1

Anthoni Kiefer-1was born on Abt. 1668 in Blankenloch, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

2. i. Valentin Kieffer Sr., B: Abt. 1694 in Blankenloch, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Generation 2

Valentin Kieffer Sr.-2(Anthoni Kiefer-1) was born on Abt. 1694 in Blankenloch, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He married Anna Barbara Stober, daughter of Hans Peter Stober. She was born on Abt. 1710 in Blankenloch, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Child of Valentin Kieffer Sr. and Anna Barbara Stober is:

i. Valentin Kieffer Jr., B: 10 Apr 1723 in Blankenloch, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, D: Abt. 1775 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania? M: Abt. 1743 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania?

Generation 3

Valentin Kieffer Jr.-3(Valentin Kieffer Sr.-2, Anthoni Kiefer-1) was born on 10 Apr 1723 in Blankenloch, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He died on Abt. 1775 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania ?. He married Barbara Kieffer (Nee?) on Abt. 1743 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania ?. She was born on Abt. 1723 in Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. She died on Abt. 1773 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania ?.

Children of Valentin Kieffer Jr. and Barbara Kieffer (Nee ?) are:

i. Anna Margaretha Kuffer, B: 27 Oct 1744 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, D: Abt. 1794.

ii. Elizabeth Kuffer, B: 17 Mar 1747 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, D: Abt. 1797.

5. iii. Maria Barbara Kuffer, B: 18 Feb 1748 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania ?, D: Abt. 1804 in Chanceford Twp, York Co., Pennsylvania, M: 17 Jun 1766 in Hill Church, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

iv. Valentin Kuffer, B: 23 Apr 1751 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, D: Abt. 1806.

v. Johannes Kuffer, B: 09 May 1753 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, D: Abt. 1808.

Generation 4

Maria Barbara Kuffer-4(Valentin Kieffer Jr.-3, Valentin Kieffer Sr.-2, Anthoni Kiefer-1) was born on 18 Feb 1748 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania ?[8, 9]. She died on Abt. 1804 in Chanceford Twp, York Co., Pennsylvania. She married Anthony Hauer on 17 Jun 1766 in Hill Church, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania, son of Christoph Hauer II and Eva Muller. He was born on Abt. Jan 1737 in Blankenloch, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. He died on 03 Apr 1804 in Chanceford Twp, York Co., Pennsylvania.

Children of Maria Barbara Kuffer and Anthony Hauer are:

i. Unknown Hauer.

5. ii. Peter Hauer, B: 1768 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, D: 28 Feb 1863 in Brush Valley, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania, M: Abt. 1795 in Chanceford Twp., York Co., Pennsylvania.

6. iii. Elizabeth Hauer, B: 1769 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania ?, D: Aft. 1809 in Chanceford Twp., York Co., Pennsylvania?, M: Abt. 1790 in Chanceford Twp., York Co., Pennsylvania.

iv. Jacob Hauer, B: 1769 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, D: Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

v. Henry Hauer, B: Abt. 1770 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, D: 03 Nov 1824 in Chanceford Twp, York Co., Pennsylvania.

7. vi. Anna Maria Hauer, B: 29 Mar 1778 in Fredericksburg , Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania, D: 08 Sep 1852 in Liverpool, Perry Co., Pennsylvania, M: 13 Dec 1808 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

vii. John Hauer, B: 17 May 1787 in Chanceford Twp, York Co., Pennsylvania, D: Abt. 1842[15].

viii. Anthony Hauer Jr., B: 22 Dec 1790 in Windsor Twp., York Co., Pennsylvania, D: Abt. 1845.

Additional information about our DIRECT ANCESTORS as well as a complete listing of individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on the following LINK.

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Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where my ancestors lived has provided me with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in my family trees. It has also led me to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group. The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the persons in the “Direct Ancestors” list (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

GERMANY

Baden-Wurttemberg

Karlsruhe (Blankenloch)

UNITED STATES

Pennsylvania

Lebanon County, York County

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ANCESTRAL LOCATIONS

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Source documents

The documents and headstones contained within the “Source Documents Archives” have been located during my research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.

Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence. Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record. Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error. Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents. Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value. This is especially true of secondary evidence. Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE: Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

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SOURCE DOCUMENTS

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Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA

Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA