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

Kovas, 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 Kovas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kovas in America

Kovas is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kovas surname appeared 116 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 Kovas.

The history of the last name Kovas

The surname KOVAS is of Lithuanian origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Lithuanian word "kovas," which means "March" or "battle." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals born in the month of March or those who were known for their warrior-like qualities.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname KOVAS can be found in historical documents from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which was a prominent state in Eastern Europe during the medieval period. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Vilnius and Kaunas, where it was borne by both noble families and commoners alike.

One of the earliest known bearers of the KOVAS surname was Jonas Kovas, a Lithuanian nobleman who lived in the late 16th century. He was a prominent landowner and played a significant role in the political affairs of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, the KOVAS name gained prominence through the exploits of Martynas Kovas, a celebrated military commander who fought against the Swedish forces during the Northern Wars. His bravery and tactical prowess on the battlefield earned him a reputation as one of the most skilled military leaders of his time.

Another notable figure bearing the KOVAS surname was Petras Kovas, a Lithuanian scholar and linguist who lived in the 18th century. He made significant contributions to the study and preservation of the Lithuanian language, publishing several works on grammar and vocabulary.

During the 19th century, the KOVAS name was associated with the Lithuanian national revival movement. Antanas Kovas, born in 1820, was a prominent writer and poet who played a crucial role in promoting the use of the Lithuanian language and fostering a sense of national identity among his fellow countrymen.

In the 20th century, the KOVAS surname gained international recognition through the achievements of Juozas Kovas, a Lithuanian-American basketball player who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1964. Born in 1912, he was a pioneering figure in the sport and helped popularize basketball in Lithuania during the interwar period.

While the KOVAS surname has its roots in Lithuania, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and diaspora communities. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in various countries, carrying with them the rich heritage and history of this ancient Lithuanian name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kovas

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

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

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

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