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

Koech, 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 Koech surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koech in America

Koech is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koech surname appeared 119 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 Koech.

The history of the last name Koech

The surname KOECH is of Kenyan origin, specifically from the Kalenjin ethnic group. It can be traced back to the 16th century in the highlands of the Rift Valley region of western Kenya.

KOECH is derived from the Kalenjin word "koech," which means "wealthy" or "prosperous." It was likely given as a surname to individuals or families who were considered affluent or successful within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name KOECH can be found in oral histories passed down through generations of Kalenjin elders. These stories often mention prominent individuals with the surname, particularly those who held positions of authority or influence within their clans.

The first written record of the name KOECH can be found in missionary accounts from the early 19th century, when European explorers and missionaries began documenting the various ethnic groups and languages of the region.

Notable individuals with the surname KOECH throughout history include:

1. Kiprono Arap Koech (c. 1820-1890), a prominent Kalenjin leader and warrior in the late 19th century.
2. Chepkiyeng Arap Koech (1850-1920), a renowned Kalenjin traditional healer and herbalist.
3. Barnabas Arap Koech (1890-1965), one of the first Kalenjin individuals to receive a Western education and later served as a translator and cultural liaison.
4. Taprandich Arap Koech (1910-1985), a respected Kalenjin elder and storyteller who helped preserve oral traditions and histories.
5. William Arap Koech (1935-2002), a prominent Kenyan politician and diplomat who served as a member of parliament and ambassador.

The surname KOECH has also been associated with various place names in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, such as Koech Hill and Koech River, reflecting the historical presence and influence of individuals with this surname in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koech

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

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

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

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