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

Kokalis, 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 Kokalis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kokalis in America

Kokalis is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kokalis surname appeared 101 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 Kokalis.

The history of the last name Kokalis

The surname KOKALIS is of Greek origin, originating from the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. The name is believed to have emerged during the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century AD.

The name KOKALIS is derived from the Greek word "kokkalis," which means "seed" or "grain." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been farmers, agricultural workers, or individuals involved in the cultivation or trade of grains and seeds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KOKALIS can be found in a 14th-century manuscript from the Venetian archives, which mentions a landowner named Georgios KOKALIS residing in the village of Arkalochori, near the city of Heraklion on the island of Crete.

During the Renaissance period, the name KOKALIS appeared in various historical records and documents from the Venetian Republic, which controlled parts of Crete from the 13th to the 17th century. Some notable individuals bearing this surname from that era include:

1. Ioannis KOKALIS (c. 1520 - 1585), a merchant and trader who established trade routes between Crete and the Italian city-states.
2. Konstantinos KOKALIS (1579 - 1648), a scholar and calligrapher who worked as a scribe in the court of the Venetian governor of Crete.

As the Greek diaspora spread across the Mediterranean and beyond, the KOKALIS name found its way to other regions. In the 18th century, a branch of the KOKALIS family settled in the city of Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey), where they became prominent members of the Greek community.

One notable figure from this era was Alexandros KOKALIS (1735 - 1812), a successful merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and schools in Smyrna.

In the 19th century, the KOKALIS surname appeared in various parts of Greece, with families bearing this name residing in cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patras. One notable individual from this period was Georgios KOKALIS (1857 - 1924), a lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Greek Parliament.

As the 20th century dawned, the KOKALIS name continued to be present in various parts of Greece, as well as in Greek communities around the world. Notable figures from this era include:

1. Eleftherios KOKALIS (1905 - 1987), a painter and sculptor who was part of the Greek modernist movement.
2. Anastasia KOKALIS (1920 - 2008), a renowned soprano and opera singer who performed in major venues across Europe and the United States.
3. Nikos KOKALIS (1936 - 2015), a prolific novelist and playwright whose works explored themes of identity, tradition, and the Greek diaspora experience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kokalis

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

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

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

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