2010
#154,907
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Kofa
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic phrase "cois faire" meaning "from the place by the lookout".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Kofa. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kofa surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Kofa in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kofa, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kofa
The surname KOFA originated in the region of Saxony, located in present-day eastern Germany, during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "kofer," which translates to "basket" or "container." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation or trade involving the production or use of baskets or containers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the KOFA surname can be traced back to the 14th century, where it appeared in various historical documents and records from the region. The name was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Koffer" or "Kofar," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era.
In the late 15th century, the KOFA name was documented in the town of Meissen, located in the heart of Saxony. This town was renowned for its production of fine porcelain, and it is possible that some members of the KOFA family were involved in the pottery or ceramic trades, utilizing baskets or containers in their work.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the KOFA surname appeared in various church records and parish registers across Saxony and neighboring regions. This period saw the spread of the name as members of the family migrated to different areas in search of opportunities or due to religious or political upheavals.
One notable figure in history who bore the KOFA surname was Hans KOFA (1520-1587), a respected master craftsman and basket weaver from the town of Freiberg, Saxony. His intricate and beautifully woven baskets were highly sought after by the local nobility and earned him a reputation for excellence in his craft.
Another individual of historical significance was Anna KOFA (1612-1678), a respected herbalist and healer from the village of Torgau. She was renowned for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and her ability to create remedies using various herbs and natural ingredients, often stored and transported in baskets woven by local artisans.
In the 18th century, the KOFA name appeared in the records of the University of Leipzig, where Johann KOFA (1736-1812) studied philosophy and theology. He later became a respected scholar and professor, contributing to the intellectual discourse of the era.
Additionally, the KOFA surname can be found in the military records of the Napoleonic Wars, where Wilhelm KOFA (1780-1846) served as a soldier in the Saxon army. He fought in several campaigns against the French forces, earning recognition for his bravery and valor on the battlefield.
Throughout the 19th century, the KOFA name continued to spread across various regions of Germany, as well as to other parts of Europe and beyond, as families sought new opportunities and horizons. While the name may have evolved and adapted over time, its origins remain rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Saxony and the skilled craftspeople who worked with baskets and containers.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kofa
Among Census respondents with the surname Kofa, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Kofa bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kofa surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American90.2% · 101
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.6% · 4
- White1.8% · 2
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kofa
Kofa appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
+7 bearers (+6.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,953 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #154,907 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.7%) | Up 6,953 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Kofa surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #154,907 | #147,954 | 4.5% |
| Count | 105 | 112 | 6.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kofa bearers went from 105 to 112 (+6.7% change). The surname moved up 6,953 positions in the national ranking, going from #154,907 to #147,954.
FAQ
Kofa surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kofa?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Kofa. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Kofa?
Kofa ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Kofa. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Kofa.
Has Kofa become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kofa went from 105 recorded bearers to 112. That is an increase of 7 (+6.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #154,907 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Kofa?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kofa, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Kofa in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.2% (101 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kofa appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (90.2%), Hispanic (3.6%), American Indian/Alaska Native (3.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Kofa (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Kofa mean?
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic phrase "cois faire" meaning "from the place by the lookout". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Kofa (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Kofa?
You can see how many people have the last name Kofa on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.