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

Koser, 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 Koser surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koser in America

Koser is the 20792nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koser surname appeared 1,270 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 Koser.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koser 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 Koser

The surname Koser has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the 16th century in the regions of modern-day Germany and Austria. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "kos," which means "pleasant conversation" or "banter," suggesting that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone known for their affable or talkative nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Koser name can be found in the parish records of the town of Schmalkalden in Thuringia, Germany, where a certain Hans Koser was documented as a resident in the year 1543. Another early reference comes from the town of Salzburg, Austria, where a family bearing the name Koser was mentioned in local records dating back to the late 16th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Koser surname gained prominence in various parts of Germany, with notable individuals such as Johann Koser (1628-1701), a respected theologian and author from Saxony, and Friedrich Koser (1723-1789), a prominent merchant and landowner from Hesse.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it also underwent variations in spelling, including Koser, Koszer, and Kosser. Additionally, some records indicate that the name may have been derived from the German word "Kose," meaning "term of endearment" or "caress," which could suggest an alternative origin related to someone with an affectionate or gentle demeanor.

In the 19th century, the Koser name found its way to other parts of Europe and even to the United States through immigration. One notable figure was Karl Koser (1843-1917), a German-American businessman and philanthropist who settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and made significant contributions to the city's cultural and educational institutions.

Another prominent individual bearing the Koser surname was Johann Koser (1865-1951), a German historian and archivist who served as the director of the Prussian State Archives in Berlin and authored several influential works on German history.

While the surname Koser is not among the most common in German-speaking regions, it has left a lasting imprint on various spheres of society, from academia and literature to business and philanthropy, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who have carried this name throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koser

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

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

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

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