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Opalka Family History

Opalka Name Meaning

Polish and Jewish (from Poland) (Opałka); Czech and Slovak (Opálka); Rusyn (in Slovakia also Opálka in Poland mainly Opałka): metonymic occupational name for a basket maker from Polish opałka Czech and Slovak opálka Rusyn (Ukrainian) opalka ‘woven basket’. Polish (Opałka): possibly also a derivative of opalić ‘to burn or singe’ or ‘to get sunburnt’ hence a nickname for a sunburnt individual.

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


Similar surnames: Opolka, Pala, Palla, Melka, Spilka, Palka, Kalka, Opal, Skalka, Galka

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Opalka family from?

You can see how Opalka families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Opalka family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 14 Opalka families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 27% of all the recorded Opalka's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Opalka families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Opalka surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Opalka ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Presser were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Opalka. 38% of Opalka men worked as a Laborer and 17% of Opalka women worked as a Presser. Some less common occupations for Americans named Opalka were On The Farm and Student Nurse. .

View Census Data for Opalka | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    38%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Truck Driver
    12%
  • On The Farm
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Presser
    17%
  • Setter
    17%
  • Saleslady
    12%
  • Student Nurse
    12%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Opalka family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Opalka

Passenger Lists

There are 633 immigration records available for the last name Opalka. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Opalka immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 329 military records available for the last name Opalka. For the veterans among your Opalka ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Opalka military records

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What is the average Opalka lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Opalka life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Opalka in 1960 was 52, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Opalka

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