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

Koah, 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 Koah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koah in America

Koah is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koah surname appeared 120 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 Koah.

The history of the last name Koah

The surname KOAH has its origins in the ancient region of Anatolia, which encompasses modern-day Turkey. It is believed to have emerged during the Byzantine Empire, which ruled over this area from the 4th to the 15th centuries. The name is derived from the Greek word "koax," meaning "croaking frog," suggesting a possible connection to a person's occupation or a distinguishing physical characteristic.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KOAH can be found in the chronicles of the Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates, who lived from 1155 to 1217. He mentioned a soldier named Konstantinos KOAH, who fought in the wars against the Seljuk Turks during the late 12th century.

In the 14th century, a prominent merchant named Ioannis KOAH was documented in the archives of the Republic of Venice, which had extensive trade relations with the Byzantine Empire. It is speculated that he may have originated from the coastal city of Ephesus or the nearby town of Koah, which could have influenced the spelling of his surname.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign over Anatolia, which began in the 15th century, the name KOAH was found in various administrative records and tax registers. Notable individuals from this period include the scholar and theologian Mehmet KOAH (1450-1521), who wrote extensively on Islamic jurisprudence, and the architect Hasan KOAH (1480-1548), credited with designing several mosques and public buildings in the city of Bursa.

As the Ottoman Empire expanded into the Balkans, the name KOAH also spread to regions such as Greece and Bulgaria. In the 17th century, a Greek Orthodox priest named Georgios KOAH (1620-1690) gained recognition for his work in translating religious texts from Greek into Turkish, facilitating the spread of Christianity among the Ottoman populace.

In the 19th century, a Bulgarian revolutionary named Ivan KOAH (1825-1892) played a significant role in the struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire. He is remembered for his participation in the April Uprising of 1876 and his efforts to establish a unified Bulgarian state.

Throughout its long history, the surname KOAH has undergone various spelling variations, such as Koah, Koach, and Koahi, reflecting the linguistic influences of the regions where it has been found. Despite its ancient roots, the name continues to be carried forward by individuals of diverse backgrounds, serving as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of the regions it has touched.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koah

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

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

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

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