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

Kaw, 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 Kaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kaw in America

Kaw is the 58735th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kaw surname appeared 345 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 Kaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kaw to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kaw

The surname "Kaw" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cawian," which means "to call" or "to shout." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone with a loud or distinctive voice.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Kaw" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a person named Johannes Kaw is listed. The name also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the same period, indicating its presence in different regions of England at the time.

The first known bearer of the surname "Kaw" is believed to be Robert Kaw, who was born in the village of Kew, Surrey, around 1410. The place name Kew itself is derived from the Old English word "cy," meaning "cow," suggesting a possible connection between the surname and the area's history of cattle farming.

Another notable figure with the surname "Kaw" was Sir William Kaw, a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who lived from 1520 to 1589. He is recorded in the Chancery Proceedings of the time and is known for his involvement in a legal dispute over property rights.

In the 16th century, the surname "Kaw" appeared in various forms, including "Kawe," "Kauwe," and "Cawe," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. One example is Thomas Cawe, a farmer from Lincolnshire, who was born around 1550 and is mentioned in the parish records of the time.

During the 17th century, the surname "Kaw" became more widespread, and several notable individuals bore this name. One such person was John Kaw, a merchant from London, who was born in 1625 and is recorded in the city's guild records.

Another significant figure was Elizabeth Kaw, born in 1670 in Nottinghamshire. She was a prominent Quaker and is mentioned in the records of the Society of Friends for her contributions to the religious community.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "Kaw" continued to be found in various parts of England, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields, including agriculture, commerce, and religious life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kaw

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

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 Kaw 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kaw has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Kaw was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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