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Abarca Family History

Abarca Surname Meaning

Basque, Spanish, and Aragonese: formerly most common in the Basque country and in Aragon, this name is generally assumed to be from 'abarca' ‘sandal’ (Basque 'abarka'), which refers to the traditional Basque peasant sandal or moccasin made of uncured leather. In the past this word was also applied to footwear made from wooden materials, and is probably derived from Basque 'abar' ‘branch’, ‘twig’.

Some scholars, however, think that 'abarka' is an old topographic term referring to a grove of holm oaks or kermes oaks.

In addition to its linguistic roots, this name also has a geographic significance. It is a habitational name from the village of Abarca in the province of Palencia.

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


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Where is the Abarca family from?

You can see how Abarca families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Abarca family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1891 and 1920. The most Abarca families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 3 Abarca families living in Lancashire. This was 100% of all the recorded Abarca's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Abarca families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Abarca 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 Abarca ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Abarca. 50% of Abarca men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Abarca women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Abarca were Fireman and Saleslady.

View Census Data for Abarca | 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, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    50%
  • Fireman
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    50%
  • Saleslady
    50%

What Abarca family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Abarca. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Abarca census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Abarca

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Abarca. 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 Abarca immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 109 military records available for the last name Abarca. For the veterans among your Abarca ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Abarca military records

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What is the average Abarca lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Abarca life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Abarca in 1942 was 24, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Abarca

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Abarca 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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