Explore the Family Name Opalka
The meaning of Opalka
1. 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’. 2. Polish (Opałka): possibly also a derivative of opalić ‘to burn or singe’ or ‘to get sunburnt’, hence a nickname for a sunburnt individual. Some characteristic forenames: Polish Andrzej, Wieslaw, Zbigniew, Zofia. German Helmuth, Klaus.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Opalka in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Opalka has seen shifts in both popularity and prevalence over a decade. In terms of popularity, the surname was ranked 34,711th in 2000 and slightly fell to 35,622nd in 2010, marking a -2.62% change. However, the count of people with this surname modestly increased from 616 individuals in 2000 to 631 individuals in 2010, representing a 2.44% growth. The proportion per 100k also experienced a decrease of -8.7%, changing from 0.23 to 0.21.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,711 | #35,622 | -2.62% |
| Count | 616 | 631 | 2.44% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.21 | -8.7% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Opalka
When it comes to ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the majority of individuals with the surname Opalka identify as White, with a minimal decline from 97.24% in 2000 to 96.99% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic rose by 21.54%, albeit from a small base of 1.30% to 1.58%. In 2000, there was a small percentage (0.97%) of individuals who identified with two or more races, but that number dropped to zero by 2010. No individuals with the surname Opalka identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.24% | 96.99% | -0.26% |
| Hispanic | 1.3% | 1.58% | 21.54% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0.97% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |