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Polk History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Polk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland

The Polk surname is of Slavic origin, derived from a personal name made up the elements "bole" which meant "large" and "slav" which meant "glory." In other cases, Polk was a German name used for someone from Poland.

Early Origins of the Polk family

The surname Polk was first found in West Prussia, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Polk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Polk research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Polk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Polk Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Polk, Polke, Polka, Polkau, Polki and others.

Early Notables of the Polk family

Notable figures of the period with the name Polk were

members of the Polk family of West Prussia

Polk Ranking

In the United States, the name Polk is the 1,062^nd most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 1

Polk migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Polk Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Polk, who settled in Maryland between the years 1672 and 1680

Polk Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Polk, who settled in Delaware in 1813
N. Polk, who arrived in San Francisco in 1850

Polk Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

David Peale Polk, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
Amy Polk, aged 57, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Christine Polk, aged 43, who landed in America, in 1913
Anne Polk, aged 51, who settled in America from Watchet, England, in 1919
Anna Polk, who landed in America, in 1922
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Polk migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Polk Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. John Polk, aged 36 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Junior" departing from the port of Junior, Liverpool but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 2
Mr. Joseph Polk, aged 20 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Araminta" departing from the port of Araminta, Liverpool but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 2
Mr William Polk, aged 22, a Sutler's Clerk at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec but died there in October 1847 during the typhus epidemic 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Polk (post 1700) +

Louis Frederick Polk Sc.D., American Industrialist, Banker and Investor
James R Polk, American Journalist
George Polk (1913-1948), American journalist for CBS murdered in Greece
Oscar Polk (1899-1949), American actor who starred in Gone with the Wind
Albert Fawcett Polk, American lawyer and United States representative from Delaware
Willis Polk (1867-1924), American architect most well known for his work in San Francisco, California
Leonidas Polk (1806-1864), American soldier, who was made a major-general in the Civil War
Alex J. Polk (1883-1950), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1947-48 4
Albert Fawcett Polk (1869-1955), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Delaware at-large, 1917-19 4
Albert F. Polk, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1964 4
... (Another 33 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 51)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 61)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html