NameCensus.

UK surname

Kaya

A Turkish surname denoting one of strong, sturdy, or firm character.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Enfield and Broxbourne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kaya is 1,213 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,213

2016, ranked #4,903

Peak year

2016

1,213 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,213 in 2016, ranked #4,903.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kaya surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kaya surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kaya 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
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 241 #16,065
1999 modern 263 #15,267
2000 modern 297 #14,008
2001 modern 298 #13,784
2002 modern 399 #11,460
2003 modern 469 #9,940
2004 modern 542 #8,956
2005 modern 633 #7,947
2006 modern 644 #7,861
2007 modern 718 #7,283
2008 modern 790 #6,822
2009 modern 858 #6,527
2010 modern 978 #5,978
2011 modern 969 #5,965
2012 modern 1,033 #5,588
2013 modern 1,097 #5,387
2014 modern 1,146 #5,219
2015 modern 1,176 #5,061
2016 modern 1,213 #4,903

Geography

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Where Kayas 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 Hackney, Enfield and Broxbourne. 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 Hackney 025 Hackney
2 Hackney 024 Hackney
3 Enfield 003 Enfield
4 Hackney 002 Hackney
5 Broxbourne 013 Broxbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kaya

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kaya

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kaya, 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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Kaya surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kaya household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kaya is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kaya 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

Kaya 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 Kaya 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kaya

The surname KAYA is believed to have originated from Turkey, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Turkish word "kaya," which means "rock" or "cliff." This surname was likely adopted by people who resided near rocky or mountainous areas, or who were associated with stonework or quarrying.

The earliest known record of the name KAYA can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appears in Ottoman manuscripts and documents. During this period, the KAYA surname was predominantly found in Anatolia, the heartland of the Ottoman Empire.

One notable historical figure with the surname KAYA was Mustafa Kaya, a 16th-century Ottoman architect who designed several mosques and other buildings in Istanbul and other parts of the empire. His most famous work is the Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque, which was completed in 1580.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Mehmet Kaya, a Turkish folk singer and songwriter who lived from 1957 to 2000. He was known for his songs that addressed social and political issues, and his music played a significant role in the revival of Turkish folk music in the late 20th century.

In the 19th century, the KAYA surname began to spread beyond Turkey, as members of the Turkish diaspora migrated to other parts of the world. One notable example is Ahmet Muhtar Kaya, a renowned painter who was born in 1886 in Istanbul but later lived and worked in Paris, where he became part of the Parisian art scene.

The KAYA surname can also be found in other parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, likely due to the influence of the Ottoman Empire and the migration of Turkic peoples. For instance, Nurbek Kaya was a prominent Kyrgyz writer and poet who lived from 1928 to 1998.

Another notable figure with the KAYA surname is Fatma Aliye Kaya, a Turkish writer and pioneer of women's rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was born in 1862 and is considered one of the first female novelists and feminists in the Ottoman Empire.

While the surname KAYA has its origins in Turkey, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots can be traced back to the rocky landscapes of Anatolia, where it was first adopted by those who lived and worked among the cliffs and mountains of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kaya surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kaya surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,213 in 2016. That gives Kaya a modern rank of #4,903.

What does the Kaya surname mean?

A Turkish surname denoting one of strong, sturdy, or firm character.

What does the Kaya map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kaya 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.