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

Kosher, 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 Kosher surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Kosher in America

Kosher is the 129619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kosher surname appeared 121 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kosher.

The history of the last name Kosher

The surname Kosher has its origins in the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, particularly within regions that are now part of modern-day Poland, Germany, and Russia. This name is believed to have surfaced during the late medieval period, roughly around the 15th to 16th centuries. It is derived from the Yiddish word kosher, which in turn comes from the Hebrew word kashér, meaning "fit" or "proper." This term is deeply rooted in Jewish dietary laws, signifying foods that are acceptable for consumption according to Jewish law.

The first known appearances of the surname Kosher can be traced to Jewish communities in Poland and Germany, with early records suggesting its existence in legal documents and communal registers. Given the fluidity of surname adoption during medieval times, the Kosher family name would have been recognized within various Jewish migrations across Europe. Historical records from the early 17th century, particularly in Jewish record books or "pinkasim," had delineations of families bearing the Kosher surname residing within small shtetls, Jewish market towns in Eastern Europe.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kosher was Eliezer Kosher, born circa 1645, a Torah scholar in Kraków, Poland. His contributions to Jewish scholarly works were notable during the late 17th century. Another prominent figure was Miriam Kosher, a midwife born around 1690 in the German region of Thuringia, recognized for her efforts in community health and wellness during a period when medical professionals were scarce.

In the 18th century, Rabbi Yaakov Kosher born in 1730 in Vilnius, Lithuania, became a reputable name in Jewish religious studies and was instrumental in the founding of Yeshivas across Lithuania and Poland, thereby cementing his family's name in the annals of Jewish educational history. Mendel Kosher, born in 1760 in Lviv, Ukraine, was a merchant whose business acumen contributed to the economic prosperity of his local Jewish community, supporting synagogues and schools.

By the 19th century, with the growing expanse of the Jewish diaspora, the Kosher surname had found its way to the United States. One notable figure was Rachel Kosher, born in 1821 in Galicia, and an early settler in New York City, where she worked tirelessly for Jewish immigrant relief efforts. Her work was pivotal during the wave of Jewish migration following pogroms in Eastern Europe, assisting many Jewish families in establishing new lives in America.

These historical figures reflect the diverse contributions of individuals bearing the Kosher surname across various spheres of life, including scholarship, medicine, commerce, and community service. The surname Kosher serves as a link to a rich cultural and religious heritage that has persevered through centuries of migration and change.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kosher

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kosher 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 Kosher was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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