Find out how popular the last name Pelcha is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Pelcha.

Pelcha, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Pelcha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pelcha in America

Pelcha is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pelcha surname appeared 110 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Pelcha.

The history of the last name Pelcha

The surname Pelcha is believed to have originated in the region of present-day Poland and the Czech Republic. It likely derives from the Slavic word "pelka," which means "rock" or "boulder." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a rocky area or worked with stones.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pelcha can be found in a 14th-century document from the town of Krakow, Poland. This document mentions a certain Jan Pelcha, who was a stonemason and resident of the city.

In the 16th century, the Pelcha name appears in several records from the Silesian region, which was then part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. These records include references to a family of landowners and nobles who held estates in the area. A notable member of this family was Ignacy Pelcha (1530-1604), who served as a military commander and played a role in the Hussite Wars.

During the 17th century, the Pelcha surname spread to other parts of Central Europe, including Germany and Austria. One prominent individual with this name was Johann Pelcha (1625-1701), a German scholar and theologian who wrote extensively on religious topics.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Pelcha family settled in the region of Galicia, which was then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A notable figure from this period was Tadeusz Pelcha (1765-1832), who served as a general in the Polish army and fought against the Russian Empire during the Napoleonic Wars.

Another significant bearer of the Pelcha name was Franciszek Pelcha (1836-1918), a Polish painter and illustrator who was renowned for his depictions of historical scenes and landscapes. His works can be found in several museums and galleries throughout Poland.

Throughout its history, the Pelcha surname has maintained a strong presence in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in areas with significant Polish and Czech populations. While it may not be as widely recognized as some other surnames, it has a rich and varied history that spans several centuries and encompasses individuals from various walks of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pelcha

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Pelcha.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Pelcha was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Pelcha was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pelcha, please contact us.

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