This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Petta family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Petta Family History

Petta Surname Meaning

Italian: (Sicily of Albanian origin): nickname derived from Albanian petë (definite form peta) ‘thin pastry noodles’. This surname is found in the ancient Albanian-speaking community of Piana degli Albanesi Sicily where the Albanian Christian refugees from the Turkish occupation of the Balkans settled in the 15th century.

Additionally, it may stem from a pet form of a female personal name such as Filippa, Jacopa, etc. Historical influences also suggest that it could originate from the ancient Germanic personal name Pit(t)o.

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 Petta family from?

You can see how Petta families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Petta family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Petta families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 5 Petta families living in Lincolnshire. This was about 63% of all the recorded Petta's in United Kingdom. Lincolnshire had the highest population of Petta families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Petta surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Petta ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Petta. 32% of Petta men worked as a Laborer and 21% of Petta women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Petta were Engineer and Saleswoman.

View Census Data for Petta | 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
    32%
  • Clerk
    9%
  • Truck Driver
    7%
  • Engineer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    21%
  • Clerk
    13%
  • Housewife
    13%
  • Saleswoman
    13%

What Petta family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Petta

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Petta. 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 Petta immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 635 military records available for the last name Petta. For the veterans among your Petta ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Petta military records

You've only scratched the surface of Petta family history

Discover More

What is the average Petta lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Petta life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1964, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Petta in 1951 was 54, and 86 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Petta

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Petta 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 Petta family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial