Explore the Family Name Pekala
The meaning of Pekala
Polish (Pękala, Pękała): nickname from the Polish dialect term pękal ‘short, fat man’, or possibly a nickname from a derivative of pękać ‘to burst or explode’. Compare Penkala. Some characteristic forenames: Polish Bogdan, Dariusz, Elzbieta, Krzysztof, Leszek, Walerian, Witold.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pekala in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Pekala has seen a steady rise in popularity within the United States over the years. In the year 2000, it ranked 39,444 in terms of prevalence nationwide, while in 2010 it had climbed to 37,792, a noticeable increase of 4.19%. The total count of individuals bearing this surname also experienced growth during this period, rising from 525 people in 2000 to 588 in 2010, marking a 12% increase. Moreover, the proportion of individuals named Pekala per 100,000 residents in the U.S. showed a slight uptick of 5.26%, growing from 0.19 in 2000 to 0.2 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,444 | #37,792 | 4.19% |
| Count | 525 | 588 | 12% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.2 | 5.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pekala
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Pekala, as reported by the Decennial U.S. Census, is predominantly white, with an overwhelming 96.6% identifying as such in 2010, down slightly from the 96.76% reported in 2000. Individuals of mixed race, identifying with two or more races, increased from 1.14% of all Pekalas in 2000 to 1.87% in 2010, reflecting a significant change of 64.04%. The 2010 census also reported a new emergence of Pekalas identifying as Hispanic, making up 0.85% of individuals with this surname, whereas there were none reported in 2000. However, the number of Pekalas identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained at zero across both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.76% | 96.6% | -0.17% |
| Two or More Races | 1.14% | 1.87% | 64.04% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0.85% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.95% | 0% | 0% |