NameCensus.

UK surname

Konopka

A Polish occupational surname derived from the word "konopie," meaning "hemp," referring to a hemp grower or processor.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Thames, Manchester and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Konopka is 222 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

2014

222 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Konopka surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Konopka surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Konopka 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
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1911 historical 12 #32,302
1997 modern 76 #29,997
1998 modern 74 #30,562
1999 modern 75 #30,661
2000 modern 72 #30,977
2001 modern 69 #31,098
2002 modern 73 #31,159
2003 modern 74 #31,091
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 137 #23,883
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 195 #19,540
2013 modern 210 #18,932
2014 modern 222 #18,355
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Konopkas 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 Kingston upon Thames, Manchester, Coventry, Thurrock and Cornwall. 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 Kingston upon Thames 006 Kingston upon Thames
2 Manchester 003 Manchester
3 Coventry 005 Coventry
4 Thurrock 016 Thurrock
5 Cornwall 016 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Konopka

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Konopka

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Konopka is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Konopka is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Konopka falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Konopka 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 Konopka, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Konopka

The surname Konopka originated in Poland, with its roots tracing back to the 14th century. Derived from the Polish word "konopie," meaning "hemp," the name likely referred to an occupation or trade involving the cultivation or processing of hemp. This crop played a crucial role in the production of textiles, ropes, and other materials in medieval times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Konopka can be found in the Księga Henrykowska, a 14th-century manuscript from Silesia, which mentions a "Konopka de villa Konopatki" (Konopka from the village of Konopatki). This village name itself is a variation of the same root, suggesting a connection to the hemp industry in the region.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth expanded, the Konopka surname spread across various territories. Historical records from this period, such as land registry documents and parish records, reveal individuals bearing this name in areas like Krakow, Lublin, and Lviv (now in Ukraine).

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname Konopka was Jan Konopka (1677-1758), a prominent Roman Catholic priest and theologian from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He served as a professor at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and authored several works on theology and philosophy.

Another historical figure of note was Feliks Konopka (1888-1982), a Polish engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing the first successful coal dust extraction system, which significantly improved safety conditions in coal mines. His innovations were widely adopted throughout the mining industry in the early 20th century.

The name Konopka also appeared in various place names across Eastern Europe, such as the village of Konopki in Belarus and the town of Konopkivka in Ukraine. These toponyms likely originated from individuals or families with the surname Konopka who settled in or founded these locations.

Other notable individuals with the surname Konopka throughout history include Stanisław Konopka (1896-1942), a Polish military officer and resistance fighter during World War II; Maria Konopka (1910-1990), a Polish-American social worker and educator; and Gérard Konopka (1915-1999), a French-American sociologist known for his work in community organization and social planning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Konopka surname: questions and answers

How common is the Konopka surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Konopka a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Konopka surname mean?

A Polish occupational surname derived from the word "konopie," meaning "hemp," referring to a hemp grower or processor.

What does the Konopka map show?

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