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

Koja, 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 Koja surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koja in America

Koja is the 108199th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koja surname appeared 164 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 Koja.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koja 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 Koja

The surname KOJA has its origins in the Balkans region of southeastern Europe, particularly in the former Yugoslavia. The name is believed to be derived from the Slavic word "koza," which means "goat" in many Slavic languages.

The earliest records of the KOJA surname can be traced back to the 15th century in the region of Montenegro, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. It is thought that the name may have initially referred to someone who kept or herded goats, as occupational surnames were common during that time.

In the 16th century, there are mentions of individuals with the KOJA surname in various historical documents and records from the region. One notable example is Marko Koja, a Serbian nobleman who lived in the late 16th century and was known for his involvement in local politics and disputes with the Ottoman authorities.

As the centuries passed, the KOJA surname spread throughout the Balkans and into neighboring regions. In the 19th century, there are records of individuals with this surname in Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, among other areas.

One of the earliest known bearers of the KOJA surname was Petar Koja, a Croatian writer and poet who lived from 1808 to 1854. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Croatian literature and is celebrated for his works that helped shape the country's cultural identity.

Another prominent figure with the KOJA surname was Nikola Koja, a Serbian military officer and diplomat who lived from 1828 to 1911. He served in the Serbian army during the Serbo-Turkish Wars and later held diplomatic positions, representing Serbia in various European capitals.

In the 20th century, Milorad Koja (1919-1998) was a renowned Serbian novelist and playwright. His works often explored themes of life in rural Serbia and the struggles of ordinary people during times of social and political upheaval.

Marko Koja (1920-2001) was a Croatian sculptor and artist who gained recognition for his abstract and avant-garde works. His sculptures can be found in public spaces and galleries throughout Croatia and beyond.

Lastly, Dragan Koja (born 1955) is a contemporary Serbian writer and essayist. He has published numerous novels, short stories, and essays that offer critical perspectives on societal issues and the human condition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koja

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

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

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

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