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Pelka Family History

Pelka Surname Meaning

Polish (Pełka): from a shortened pet form of the Old Polish personal name Świętopełk or a similar name.

Jewish (from Poland; Pełka): habitational name from Pełki in Poland.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pelka family from?

You can see how Pelka families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pelka family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Pelka families were found in and USA in 1880. In 1911 there was 1 Pelka family living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Pelka's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Pelka families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pelka surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Pelka ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Waitress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pelka. 34% of Pelka men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Pelka women worked as a Waitress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pelka were Stock Clerk and Operator.

View Census Data for Pelka | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    34%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Machinist
    8%
  • Stock Clerk
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Waitress
    25%
  • Winder
    25%
  • Conveyor Operator
    25%
  • Operator
    25%

What Pelka family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Pelka. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pelka census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Pelka

Passenger Lists

There are 681 immigration records available for the last name Pelka. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Pelka immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Pelka. For the veterans among your Pelka ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pelka military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pelka family history

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What is the average Pelka lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Pelka life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Pelka in 1950 was 37, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pelka

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pelka ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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