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Balka Family History

Balka Surname Meaning

Polish (Bałka) is a nickname derived from the regional noun bała, which means ‘awkward clumsy person’.

Alternatively, it can also be a nickname derived from bać się, which in its singular past tense form is bał się, meaning ‘to be afraid scared’.

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 Balka family from?

You can see how Balka families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Balka family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Balka families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Balka family living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Balka's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Balka families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Balka 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 Balka ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Balka. 55% of Balka men worked as a Laborer and 60% of Balka women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Balka were Truck Driver and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Balka | 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
    55%
  • Miner
    15%
  • Farm Boy
    7%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    60%
  • Housekeeper
    40%

What Balka family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Balka

Passenger Lists

There are 395 immigration records available for the last name Balka. 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 Balka immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 428 military records available for the last name Balka. For the veterans among your Balka ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Balka military records

You've only scratched the surface of Balka family history

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What is the average Balka lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Balka life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 1975. The average life expectancy for Balka in 1954 was 55, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Balka

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Balka 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Balka family tree

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