Explore the Family Name Balka
The meaning of Balka
Polish (Bałka): 1. nickname derived from the regional noun bała ‘awkward, clumsy person’. 2. alternatively, a nickname derived from bać się (3rd sg. past tense bał się) ‘to be afraid, scared’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Balka in the United States?
The surname Balka, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, has seen a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 65,668, but by 2010, it had dropped to 73,666, showing a decline of 12.18%. This coincides with the fall in the count of individuals bearing the surname Balka, from 282 in 2000 to 263 in 2010, equating to a drop of 6.74%. Its proportion per 100k people also fell by 10%, moving from 0.1 in 2000 to 0.09 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #65,668 | #73,666 | -12.18% |
| Count | 282 | 263 | -6.74% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.09 | -10% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Balka
In terms of ethnic identity, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there are some changes observed over the decade. Individuals identifying as "White" made up 76.24% of those carrying the surname Balka in 2000, but decreased to 71.86% by 2010. The percentage of those associating themselves with "Black" ethnicity increased from 19.50% to 23.19% while the "Hispanic" category saw an increase from 2.13% to 2.66%. An increase was also noted in those identifying with "Two or more races", rising from 1.77% to 2.28%. However, no individuals within this surname group identified as "Asian/Pacific Islander" or "American Indian and Alaskan Native" in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.24% | 71.86% | -5.75% |
| Black | 19.5% | 23.19% | 18.92% |
| Hispanic | 2.13% | 2.66% | 24.88% |
| Two or More Races | 1.77% | 2.28% | 28.81% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |