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

Kuz, 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 Kuz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kuz in America

Kuz is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kuz surname appeared 103 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 Kuz.

The history of the last name Kuz

The surname "Kuz" is of Polish origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the early 16th century. The name is derived from the Polish word "kuźnia," which means "smithy" or "forge." This suggests that the early bearers of this surname were likely involved in metalworking professions such as blacksmithing or ironworking.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "Kuz" can be traced back to historical records and documents from the Polish regions of Silesia and Lesser Poland. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Jan Kuz, a blacksmith who lived in the town of Kraków in the late 16th century.

The name "Kuz" is also closely linked to the Polish village of Kuźnica, located in the Opole Voivodeship. It is believed that the name may have originated in this region, with families adopting the surname "Kuz" as a reference to their connection to the village or to the metalworking profession that was prevalent in the area.

In the 17th century, the name "Kuz" appeared in various historical records, such as parish registers and court documents. One notable individual from this period was Michał Kuz, a prominent landowner and nobleman who lived in the Kraków region between 1620 and 1687.

As the surname spread throughout Poland, variations in spelling emerged, including "Kuź," "Kuż," and "Kusz." These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciation differences.

In the 19th century, the name "Kuz" gained further recognition with the birth of Kazimierz Kuz (1825-1891), a Polish painter and engraver who was known for his landscapes and portraits. His works are featured in several notable Polish art museums and galleries.

Another prominent figure with the surname "Kuz" was Józef Kuz (1870-1945), a Polish writer and journalist who actively participated in the Polish independence movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In more recent times, the name "Kuz" has been carried by individuals such as Bogdan Kuz (1932-2017), a Polish actor and theater director who made significant contributions to the Polish theater scene in the latter half of the 20th century.

While the surname "Kuz" is primarily associated with Poland, it has also been found in other parts of Eastern Europe, likely due to migration and cultural exchange between neighboring regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kuz

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

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

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

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