2010
#133,863
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Koshkaryan
An Armenian surname likely denoting someone from the village of Koshkara.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Koshkaryan. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Koshkaryan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Koshkaryan in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Koshkaryan, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Koshkaryan
The surname KOSHKARYAN is of Armenian origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period in the Armenian Highlands, encompassing parts of present-day Armenia, eastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran. The name is derived from the Armenian word "koshkar," which means "bear," suggesting a potential connection to a person's physical attributes or occupation.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the KOSHKARYAN surname can be found in the Armenian Chronicle of Kirakos Gandzaketsi, dating back to the 13th century. This medieval manuscript documents the activities of Armenian noble families, including the Koshkaryans, who were influential landowners and military leaders in the region.
During the 14th century, the KOSHKARYAN name appears in various Armenian manuscripts and records, indicating the family's prominence in the region. One notable figure from this era was Hovhannes Koshkaryan, a skilled architect who oversaw the construction of several churches and monasteries in the Armenian Highlands.
In the 16th century, the KOSHKARYAN surname gained further recognition with the birth of Grigor Koshkaryan (1512-1594), a renowned Armenian scholar and theologian. Grigor's contributions to Armenian literature and philosophy earned him a respected place in the intellectual circles of his time.
Another prominent figure bearing the KOSHKARYAN name was Petros Koshkaryan (1768-1846), a noted Armenian writer and poet. His works, which often explored themes of Armenian identity and culture, were widely celebrated during his lifetime and continue to be studied by scholars today.
In the late 19th century, the KOSHKARYAN surname gained international recognition with the birth of Mikayel Koshkaryan (1876-1941), a celebrated Armenian painter and sculptor. Mikayel's works, which frequently depicted scenes from Armenian folklore and history, were exhibited in renowned galleries across Europe and the United States.
Throughout its history, the KOSHKARYAN surname has maintained a strong connection to its Armenian roots, with many bearers of the name playing significant roles in the cultural, intellectual, and artistic spheres of Armenian society. While the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period, its legacy continues to endure, serving as a testament to the rich heritage and traditions of the Armenian people.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Koshkaryan
Among Census respondents with the surname Koshkaryan, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Koshkaryan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Koshkaryan surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.4% · 107
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Koshkaryan
Koshkaryan appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-15 bearers (-11.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,802 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #133,863 | 126 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | -15 bearers (-11.9%) | Down 14,802 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Koshkaryan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #133,863 | #148,665 | -11.1% |
| Count | 126 | 111 | -11.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -7.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Koshkaryan bearers went from 126 to 111 (-11.9% change). The surname moved down 14,802 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,863 to #148,665.
FAQ
Koshkaryan surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Koshkaryan?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Koshkaryan. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Koshkaryan?
Koshkaryan ranks #148,665 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 111 people with the surname Koshkaryan. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Koshkaryan.
Has Koshkaryan become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Koshkaryan went from 126 recorded bearers to 111. That is a decrease of 15 (-11.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,863 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Koshkaryan?
Among Census respondents with the surname Koshkaryan, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Koshkaryan in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.4% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Koshkaryan appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.4%), Hispanic (1.8%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Koshkaryan (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Koshkaryan mean?
An Armenian surname likely denoting someone from the village of Koshkara. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Koshkaryan (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Koshkaryan?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the last name Koshkaryan at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.