NameCensus.

UK surname

Palka

Originally derived from Polish "palka," meaning a small stick or cane.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Palka surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 231, ranked #17,764, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Wyndford and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Palka is 232 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23000.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

231

2016, ranked #17,764

Peak year

2015

232 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Palka had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016, ranked #17,764.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Palka surname distribution map

The map shows where the Palka surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Palka surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Palka over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1997 modern 47 #32,975
1998 modern 49 #33,000
1999 modern 45 #33,511
2000 modern 41 #33,889
2001 modern 38 #34,004
2002 modern 38 #34,307
2003 modern 43 #33,951
2004 modern 50 #33,566
2005 modern 75 #31,400
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 179 #20,886
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 227 #18,029
2015 modern 232 #17,689
2016 modern 231 #17,764

Geography

Back to top

Where Palkas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Wyndford, Wolverhampton and Preston. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 018 Calderdale
2 Wyndford Glasgow City
3 Wolverhampton 027 Wolverhampton
4 Calderdale 008 Calderdale
5 Preston 007 Preston

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Palka

These lists show first names that appear often with the Palka surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Palka

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Palka, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Palka surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Palka household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Palka is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Palka is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Palka falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Palka is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Palka, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Palka

The surname Palka is of Polish origin, originating in the late medieval period around the 15th or 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "palka," which means "stick" or "rod," potentially referring to an occupation or a physical characteristic of an early bearer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Palka surname can be found in the Polish town of Kraków, where in the 16th century, a merchant named Jan Palka was mentioned in local records. Another early reference is from the nearby town of Tarnów, where a landowner named Maciej Palka was documented in the late 1500s.

In the 17th century, the Palka name gained some prominence in the region of Galicia, which was then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A notable figure was Andrzej Palka (1623-1698), a Catholic priest and theologian who served as a canon in the city of Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine).

As the Palka family spread throughout Poland in the following centuries, several individuals made their mark in various fields. One example is Franciszek Palka (1737-1809), a painter and sculptor from the town of Bochnia, whose works can still be found in churches across southern Poland.

Another notable bearer of the Palka surname was Józef Palka (1855-1922), a Polish politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Galician Diet and the Austrian Parliament in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In more recent times, the Palka name has been carried by several accomplished individuals, such as Stanisław Palka (1908-1984), a Polish philosopher and professor at the University of Warsaw, and Jerzy Palka (born 1946), a prominent Polish actor known for his roles in theater and film.

While the Palka surname is most commonly found in Poland, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration, particularly to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, where Polish communities have established themselves over the past few centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Palka families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Palka surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 1 Palkas recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.28x.

County Total Index
Surrey 1 21.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke in Surrey leads with 1 Palkas recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Stoke 1 5000.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Palka surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Martha 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Palka households.

Occupation Count
Teacher Of Music & German 1

FAQ

Palka surname: questions and answers

How common was the Palka surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Palka surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Palka surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016. That gives Palka a modern rank of #17,764.

What does the Palka surname mean?

Originally derived from Polish "palka," meaning a small stick or cane.

What does the Palka map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Palka bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.