2000
#24,200
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 971
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.36
Rare Last name
Koshy
A surname of Indian origin referring to people of the Nair caste.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,173 Americans carry the last name Koshy. That puts it at #14,974 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 157,733 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Koshy 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Koshy with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 157,733
Census rank
#14,974
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,895 bearers of the surname Koshy in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14974th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Koshy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Koshy
The surname "KOSHY" is believed to have originated in the Indian state of Kerala, situated in the southwestern region of the subcontinent. This name likely traces its roots back to the ancient Malayalam language, which has been spoken in Kerala for several centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "KOSHY" can be found in historical documents dating back to the 16th century, when Kerala was under the rule of the powerful Travancore Kingdom. During this period, the name was often associated with families from the Nair caste, a prominent community in the region.
In the centuries that followed, the "KOSHY" surname became increasingly prevalent across various parts of Kerala, with some members of this lineage establishing themselves as influential figures in various fields, including politics, literature, and commerce.
One notable individual bearing the "KOSHY" surname was Kurian Koshy, a prominent writer and social reformer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a pioneering figure in the Malayalam literary renaissance and played a crucial role in advocating for social and educational reforms in Kerala.
Another distinguished individual with the "KOSHY" surname was Thekkedath Koshy, a prominent businessman and philanthropist who lived during the late 19th century. He was known for his significant contributions to the development of the city of Kochi, where he established several educational and charitable institutions.
In the realm of politics, P.T. Koshy was a prominent figure who served as a member of the Travancore Legislative Council in the early 20th century. He was a vocal advocate for the rights of the underprivileged and played a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of Kerala during that era.
It is also worth noting that the surname "KOSHY" has been subject to various spelling variations over the centuries, such as "KOSHI," "KOSHIE," and "KOSHE." These variations can often be attributed to regional dialects and the influence of other languages, particularly English, during the colonial period in India.
Throughout its long history, the surname "KOSHY" has maintained a strong presence in Kerala, and individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions to various aspects of society, including literature, business, politics, and social reform.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Koshy
Among Census respondents with the surname Koshy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Koshy 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 Koshy surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander92.8% · 1,759
- White3.3% · 62
- Two or more races2.1% · 39
- Hispanic or Latino1.3% · 24
- Black or African American0.4% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Koshy
Koshy appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#18,401
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,505
+534 bearers (+55.0%)
Per 100,000 0.51
Rank movement Up 5,799 places
2020
#14,974
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,895
+390 bearers (+25.9%)
Per 100,000 0.63
Rank movement Up 3,427 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #24,200 | 971 | 0.36 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #18,401 | 1,505 | 0.51 | +534 bearers (+55.0%) | Up 5,799 places |
| 2020 | #14,974 | 1,895 | 0.63 | +390 bearers (+25.9%) | Up 3,427 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 Koshy 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 | #18,401 | #14,974 | 18.6% |
| Count | 1,505 | 1,895 | 25.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.51 | 0.63 | 24.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Koshy bearers went from 1,505 to 1,895 (+25.9% change). The surname moved up 3,427 positions in the national ranking, going from #18,401 to #14,974.
FAQ
Koshy surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Koshy?
Name Census estimates that about 2,173 living Americans carry the surname Koshy. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 157,733 residents.
How common is Koshy?
Koshy ranks #14,974 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,895 people with the surname Koshy. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,173), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.63 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.63 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Koshy.
Has Koshy become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Koshy went from 1,505 recorded bearers to 1,895. That is an increase of 390 (+25.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #18,401 to #14,974.
What does the Census say about the background of Koshy?
Among Census respondents with the surname Koshy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). 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?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Koshy in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.8% (1,759 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Koshy appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (92.8%), White (3.3%), Two or More Races (2.1%). 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 Koshy (2000, 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 Koshy mean?
A surname of Indian origin referring to people of the Nair caste. 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 Koshy (0.63 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 Americans have the surname Koshy?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.