Keefer
A surname that usually comes from an old German nickname or from a Germanic personal name, often linked to similar names like Kiefer or Kiefer-style forms.
The #3,713 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 32,323 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Keefer is most likely a German surname that developed from a personal name or nickname rather than from an English word. In many cases it is treated as a variant spelling of Kiefer, which can be related to German dialect forms or to surnames built from a short personal name. The exact pathway is not always certain, and English-language spelling has often blurred the distinction between Keefer, Kiefer, and related forms.
History
The name is especially associated with German-speaking immigration to North America, where spellings were often simplified or shifted by clerks and family usage. In the United States it is found mainly among descendants of German immigrants, and the Keefer/Kiefer spelling split may reflect local pronunciation and later standardization.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Keefer and Kiefer are often treated as spelling variants in North America, even when individual families insist on a single preferred form.