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Vala Family History

Vala Surname Meaning

Portuguese: habitational name from any of the towns in Portugal named Vala (or with Vala).

Italian (Abruzzo): unexplained.

Indian (Gujarat): name of unexplained etymology.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Vala family from?

You can see how Vala families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Vala family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Vala families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 4 Vala families living in Cheshire. This was about 67% of all the recorded Vala's in United Kingdom. Cheshire had the highest population of Vala families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Vala 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 Vala ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Vala. 38% of Vala men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Vala women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Vala were Baker and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Vala | 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
    38%
  • Farmer
    21%
  • Farm Laborer
    9%
  • Baker
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    50%
  • Stenographer
    50%

What Vala family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Vala

Passenger Lists

There are 743 immigration records available for the last name Vala. 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 Vala immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 447 military records available for the last name Vala. For the veterans among your Vala ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Vala military records

You've only scratched the surface of Vala family history

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What is the average Vala lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Vala life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1987, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Vala in 1963 was 81, and 59 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Vala

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

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