NameCensus.

UK surname

Kawa

A toponym surname referring to someone from a place called Kawa.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Charnwood and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kawa is 232 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

232

2016, ranked #17,694

Peak year

2016

232 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016, ranked #17,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kawa surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kawa surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kawa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kawa over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 101 #26,774
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 154 #21,576
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 165 #21,552
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 216 #18,251
2013 modern 221 #18,252
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 226 #17,995
2016 modern 232 #17,694

Geography

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Where Kawas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Charnwood, Ealing, Barnet and Brent. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 097 Birmingham
2 Charnwood 002 Charnwood
3 Ealing 028 Ealing
4 Barnet 026 Barnet
5 Brent 009 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kawa

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kawa surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kawa

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kawa, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Kawa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kawa household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kawa is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kawa is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kawa falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kawa is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kawa, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kawa

The surname KAWA is believed to have originated in Poland, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Polish word "kawa," which means "coffee." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in the coffee trade or cultivation during that time period.

One of the earliest known references to the KAWA surname can be found in the Metryka Koronna (Crown Register) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where a certain Jan KAWA was listed as a landowner in the region of Lesser Poland (Małopolska) in the mid-1500s.

In the 17th century, there are records of a prominent KAWA family residing in the town of Kraków, which was a major center of trade and commerce in those days. Notable members of this family included Michał KAWA (1620-1695), a successful merchant and landowner, and his son, Jakub KAWA (1657-1722), who served as a city councilor in Kraków.

During the 18th century, the KAWA name spread to other regions of Poland, with mentions of the surname appearing in various parish records and historical documents. One notable figure from this period was Franciszek KAWA (1745-1818), a scholar and philosopher who taught at the University of Kraków.

In the 19th century, the KAWA surname gained further recognition with the birth of Jan KAWA (1825-1890), a renowned Polish writer and poet who is considered one of the foremost representatives of the Polish Romantic literary movement.

Another significant figure bearing the KAWA surname was Józef KAWA (1868-1938), a Polish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early aviation technology. He is credited with designing and constructing one of the first successful gliders in Poland.

Throughout the centuries, the KAWA surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, including merchants, landowners, intellectuals, artists, and engineers. While its origins can be traced back to Poland, the name has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kawa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kawa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016. That gives Kawa a modern rank of #17,694.

What does the Kawa surname mean?

A toponym surname referring to someone from a place called Kawa.

What does the Kawa map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kawa bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.