Kovalev
A Russian occupational surname derived from the word "koval" meaning "blacksmith."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 548 Americans carry the last name Kovalev. That puts it at #44,500 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 625,464 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kovalev surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
548
1 in 625,464
Census rank
#44,500
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
483
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 483 bearers of the surname Kovalev in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 44500th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kovalev, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.8%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kovalev
The surname Kovalev is of Russian origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Koval, which means "blacksmith" in Russian. The name Kovalev itself means "son of a blacksmith."
In medieval Russia, blacksmiths were highly respected craftsmen, and their profession was often passed down from father to son. As a result, the surname Kovalev became associated with families engaged in the blacksmithing trade.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Kovalev can be found in the Pistsovye Knigi (Census Books) of the 16th and 17th centuries, which were used to record the population and land ownership in various regions of Russia.
During the 18th century, the surname Kovalev became more widespread as the Russian Empire expanded and families with this name settled in different parts of the country. Some notable individuals bearing the surname Kovalev from this period include Ivan Kovalev (1731-1795), a Russian navigator and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Aleutian Islands and the Alaskan coast.
In the 19th century, the surname Kovalev continued to be prominent, particularly among the nobility and military ranks. One notable figure was Yegor Kovalev (1809-1868), a Russian general who participated in the Crimean War and the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878.
The 20th century saw several prominent Kovalevs in various fields, such as Sergey Kovalev (1919-2000), a Soviet and Russian philosopher and academic who specialized in ethics and social philosophy. Another notable figure was Andrey Kovalev (1923-2001), a Soviet and Russian actor who appeared in numerous films and stage productions.
In the field of sports, the surname Kovalev has also been well-represented, with individuals like Alexei Kovalev (born 1973), a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams, including the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens.
Overall, the surname Kovalev has a rich history rooted in the blacksmithing tradition of medieval Russia and has been associated with notable figures in various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kovalev
Among Census respondents with the surname Kovalev, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.8%.
The bar chart below shows how Kovalev bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Kovalev surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kovalev surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,500 | #44,500 | 0.0% |
| Count | 483 | 483 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kovalev bearers went from 483 to 483 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #44,500 to #44,500.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kovalev
FAQ
Kovalev surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kovalev?
The surname Kovalev holds position #44,500 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 548 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kovalev surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kovalev, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.8%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.