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

Kosek, 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 Kosek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kosek in America

Kosek is the 22618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kosek surname appeared 1,135 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 Kosek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kosek 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 Kosek

The surname KOSEK is of Polish origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the Polish word "kosa," which means "scythe," suggesting an occupational connection to agricultural or farming activities.

In the early days, surnames were often derived from occupations, physical characteristics, or place names. KOSEK likely referred to someone who was a skilled scythe maker or user, perhaps a farmer or a worker in the fields. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 14th century in the region of Lesser Poland, specifically in the areas around Krakow and Lublin.

The name KOSEK appeared in various historical records and manuscripts from the Middle Ages, including the Akta Grodzkie, a collection of court records from the 15th and 16th centuries. One notable mention was in a document from 1472, which referred to a certain Jan KOSEK, a landowner from the village of Biskupice near Krakow.

Throughout history, the KOSEK surname has undergone minor variations in spelling, such as KOSECK, KOSSEK, or KOSCEK, reflecting regional dialects and transcription differences. Several notable individuals have borne this surname, including:

1. Stanisław KOSEK (1515-1587), a prominent Polish nobleman and statesman who served as the Castellan of Biecz.
2. Marcin KOSEK (1638-1701), a Polish Catholic priest and writer, known for his religious works and sermons.
3. Kazimierz KOSEK (1803-1876), a Polish military officer who fought in the November Uprising against the Russian Empire.
4. Michał KOSEK (1874-1942), a Polish painter and illustrator, renowned for his landscape and genre paintings.
5. Wanda KOSEK-OBLUSKA (1901-1988), a Polish actress and theater director, celebrated for her performances in the interwar period.

While the KOSEK surname has its roots in Poland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and has become more widely distributed. However, its origins can be traced back to the agricultural communities of medieval Poland, where it likely emerged as an occupational surname related to the use of the scythe in farming and harvesting.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kosek

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

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

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

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