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Poland Family History

Poland Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from a place in Hampshire called Poland which probably derives from Old English Pōling or Pulling ‘pool place’. Alternatively it may be a variant of any of the similar (like-sounding) English surnames such as Pulham and Pullen altered by folk etymology to conform to the name of the country in central Europe.

Irish (County Offaly also Armagh and Down): variant of Polin. Compare Polan.

German: ethnic name from Middle High German Polan ‘Poland’ + excrescent -d denoting an ethnic Pole or someone with Polish connections.

Altered form of French Poulin or Poulain ‘young animal colt’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Poland family from?

You can see how Poland families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Poland family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Poland families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 123 Poland families living in London. This was about 27% of all the recorded Poland's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Poland families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Poland 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 Poland ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Poland. 48% of Poland men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Poland women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Poland were Dock Labourer and Paid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Poland | 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 1939

  • General Labourer
    48%
  • Lorry Driver
    9%
  • Bricklayer
    9%
  • Dock Labourer
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Post Office Clerk
    3%
  • Paid Domestic Duties
    2%

What Poland family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 53,000 census records available for the last name Poland. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Poland census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Poland

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Poland. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Poland immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 28,000 military records available for the last name Poland. For the veterans among your Poland ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Poland military records

You've only scratched the surface of Poland family history

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What is the average Poland lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Poland life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Poland in 1941 was 45, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Poland

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Poland 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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