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Pekala Family History

Pekala Surname Meaning

Polish (Pękala Pękała): nickname from the Polish dialect term pękal ‘short fat man’.

It may also possibly be a nickname from a derivative of pękać ‘to burst or explode’.

Compare Penkala.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pekala family from?

You can see how Pekala families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pekala family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 9 Pekala families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 27% of all the recorded Pekala's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Pekala families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pekala 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 Pekala ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pekala. 37% of Pekala men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Pekala women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pekala were Farmer and Maid.

View Census Data for Pekala | 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
    37%
  • New Worker
    10%
  • Carpenter
    7%
  • Farmer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    50%
  • Maid
    50%

What Pekala family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 761 census records available for the last name Pekala. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pekala census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pekala

Passenger Lists

There are 767 immigration records available for the last name Pekala. 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 Pekala immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 462 military records available for the last name Pekala. For the veterans among your Pekala ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pekala military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pekala family history

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What is the average Pekala lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Pekala life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Pekala in 1953 was 47, and 54 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pekala

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pekala 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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