Explore the Family Name Poland
The meaning of Poland
1. English: habitational name from a place in Hampshire called Poland, which probably derives from Old English Pōling or Pulling ‘pool place’. Alternatively, it may be a variant of any of the similar (like-sounding) English surnames, such as Pulham and Pullen, altered by folk etymology to conform to the name of the country in Central Europe. 2. Irish (County Offaly, also Armagh and Down): variant of Polin. Compare Polan. 3. German: ethnic name from Middle High German Polan ‘Poland’ + excrescent -d, denoting an ethnic Pole or someone with Polish connections. 4. Altered form of French Poulin or Poulain ‘young animal, colt’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Poland in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Poland" in the United States has seen a slight decrease over the decade from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 4185th most common name and saw a drop to 4581st position in 2010, representing a change of -9.46%. The count of individuals bearing this surname also declined from 7854 in 2000 to 7746 in 2010, a decrease of -1.38%. In terms of proportion per 100,000 people, the presence of this surname dropped from 2.91 to 2.63, indicating a -9.62% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,185 | #4,581 | -9.46% |
| Count | 7,854 | 7,746 | -1.38% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.91 | 2.63 | -9.62% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Poland
The Decennial U.S. Census data also gives insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Poland". In 2000, the percentage of those identified as White was the highest at 91.98%, but it slightly decreased to 90.68% by 2010. Individuals identifying as Black represented 3.77% in 2000, increasing to 4.09% in 2010. The Hispanic population increased significantly from 1.62% to 2.41% during this period. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or more races also saw increases, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native population saw a decrease. However, these percentages remain relatively small when compared to the White population.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.98% | 90.68% | -1.41% |
| Black | 3.77% | 4.09% | 8.49% |
| Hispanic | 1.62% | 2.41% | 48.77% |
| Two or More Races | 1.43% | 1.59% | 11.19% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.71% | 0.77% | 8.45% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.5% | 0.45% | -10% |
Poland ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Poland is British & Irish, which comprises 51.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (28.5%) and Eastern European (4.2%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Chinese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 51.1% |
| French & German | 28.5% |
| Eastern European | 4.2% |
| Other | 16.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Poland
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Poland have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 87.90% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 87.90% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 87.90% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.40% |
What Poland haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Poland is E-M5021, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup E-M5021 is descended from haplogroup E-M96. Other common haplogroups include I-Z138 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Villarreal, Sperling, Jaffe, Lander, Roos, Schumann, Kranz, Landa, Madera, Larosa.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Poland surname are: H1, H, U5a1. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins E-M96
Your paternal lineage may be linked to early European farmers
If you have haplogroup E1b1b1, your paternal line stems from a branch of E-M215 called E-M5021. Men bearing this lineage migrated from the Balkans to southwestern Europe during the spread of agriculture by early farmers in the agricultural revolution, which began about 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent. Early members of haplogroup E1b1b1, some of the world's first farmers, had a competitive advantage over native men, who didn't have farming technology. As a result of this advantage, haplogroup E1b1b1 became widespread and populous during the agricultural revolution. The effects of this ancient advantage are still seen today, with haplogroup E1b1b1 being represented from Portugal and Spain to Palestine, southern Africa, and Russia.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Poland have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Poland" Surname 33.9%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Poland" Surname 26.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Poland" Surname 24.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Poland" Surname 15.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Poland?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Poland are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition