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

Qosaj, 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 Qosaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Qosaj in America

Qosaj is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Qosaj surname appeared 100 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 Qosaj.

The history of the last name Qosaj

The surname QOSAJ is a rare Albanian surname that originated in the village of Qosaj, located in the northern region of Kosovo. The name is derived from the Albanian word "qos," meaning "monk" or "friar," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been associated with monastic orders or religious institutions in the area.

The earliest known records of the QOSAJ surname date back to the 15th century, when the Ottoman Empire ruled over the Balkan region. During this period, many Albanians converted to Islam, and some families adopted Turkish-influenced surnames, including QOSAJ. It is believed that the name was initially used to identify individuals or families who lived in or near the village of Qosaj.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the QOSAJ surname can be found in a Ottoman tax register from 1487, which lists several households with this name in the Prizren region of Kosovo. This document provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the QOSAJ surname during the 15th century.

In the 17th century, a notable figure associated with the QOSAJ surname was Mehmet Qosaj (1630-1698), a prominent Albanian bey (lord) who governed the Dukagjin region of northern Albania. His descendants continued to wield significant influence in the area, and the QOSAJ name became closely tied to the local nobility and landowners.

Another notable figure was Ismail Qosaj (1785-1860), a renowned Albanian scholar and poet who was born in the village of Qosaj. His works, which celebrated Albanian culture and language, played a crucial role in the Albanian National Awakening movement of the 19th century.

During the 20th century, the QOSAJ surname gained prominence with individuals such as Shefqet Qosaj (1912-1997), a renowned Albanian writer and journalist who was a leading figure in the country's literary circles. His novels and short stories provided insightful portrayals of Albanian society and culture.

Another prominent bearer of the QOSAJ surname was Hysen Qosaj (1920-2001), a renowned Albanian musician and composer who made significant contributions to the development of traditional Albanian music. His compositions, which blended traditional elements with modern influences, helped to preserve and popularize Albanian folk music.

While the QOSAJ surname remains relatively uncommon outside of Kosovo and northern Albania, it has a rich historical legacy that spans centuries and is deeply rooted in the region's cultural and religious traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Qosaj

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

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

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

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