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Polish Family History

Polish Surname Meaning

Jewish (American): translation into English of Polish Polski Polak or a similar name.

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 Polish family from?

You can see how Polish families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Polish family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Polish families were found in USA in 1920. In 1841 there were 8 Polish families living in Kirkcudbrightshire. This was about 89% of all the recorded Polish's in Scotland. Kirkcudbrightshire had the highest population of Polish families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Polish 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 Polish ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Polish. 29% of Polish men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Polish women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Polish were Operator and Maid.

View Census Data for Polish | 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
    29%
  • Miner
    16%
  • Salesman
    11%
  • Operator
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    34%
  • Stenographer
    34%
  • Maid
    34%

What Polish family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Polish

Passenger Lists

There are 279 immigration records available for the last name Polish. 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 Polish immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 258 military records available for the last name Polish. For the veterans among your Polish ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Polish military records

You've only scratched the surface of Polish family history

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What is the average Polish lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Polish life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Polish in 1964 was 65, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Polish

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

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