This week’s surname is from my paternal Polish ancestors. I’ve heard it pronounced both Troh-kuh and Truck-uh. The TROKA surname first shows up in my family tree with my great-grandmother, Emily (TROKA) ZALEWSKI. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1896. Her father, Joseph TROKA, was born in 1871. I have traced his birth to the Lipusz area of what was then West Prussia. It is now located in KoÅ›cierzyna County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. He immigrated in about 1888 or 1889, either by himself or with his family. I have not tracked down his parents in the US, but have seen note of his brothers and sisters here. His parents are listed as Michael & Joslyna (GRABOWSKA) TROKA on his marriage certificate. Joseph married Clara SZULTA at St. Hedwig’s Church in Milwaukee in 1894.
According to the map below, courtesy of World Family Names, the surname is most popular in the Polish county mentioned above, Kościerzyna.
Hi –
As someone who doesn’t have any Polish ancestors, I really love reading about Polish genealogy. I knew Wisconsin was a common place that Germans immigrated to, but I didn’t know that many Polish people immigrated there. But it makes sense really, since the Polish cultures and German cultures are probably somewhat similar and have somewhat similar foods, etc. I don’t speak neither German or Polish, but I wonder if they are similar sounding.
I went to WikiTree to see if any Troka profiles came up. I was pleasantly surprised that one profile did come up: http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Special:SearchPerson I know it isn’t much, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to let you know.
Is Troka a common Polish surname?
Good luck!
-Elyse
WikiTree Evangelist.
I don’t think TROKA is very common, at least not around here. The only people I find are probably somehow related to me. I don’t know how common it is where the name came from in Lipusz.
Milwaukee has a large Polish community, it’s one of the largest in the nation behind places like Detroit and Chicago. I’ll take a look at the link. Thanks.