NameCensus.

UK surname

Kopec

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived on or near a hill or mountain.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Conwy, Isle of Anglesey and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kopec is 351 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

351

2016, ranked #13,127

Peak year

2016

351 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016, ranked #13,127.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kopec surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kopec surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kopec 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
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 107 #26,754
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 108 #26,486
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 180 #19,526
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 236 #16,736
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 331 #13,538
2013 modern 337 #13,537
2014 modern 342 #13,498
2015 modern 348 #13,221
2016 modern 351 #13,127

Geography

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Where Kopecs 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 Conwy, Isle of Anglesey, Herefordshire, Cheshire West and Chester and Leeds. 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 Conwy 013 Conwy
2 Isle of Anglesey 003 Isle of Anglesey
3 Herefordshire 023 Herefordshire, County of
4 Cheshire West and Chester 002 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Leeds 092 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kopec

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kopec

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kopec is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kopec 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

Kopec falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kopec is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kopec

The surname Kopec originated in Poland and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Polish word "kopiec," which means "mound" or "hill." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent hill or mound in the Polish countryside.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kopec can be found in the 14th century Polish tax records, known as the "Libri Bene c Regis." These records list several individuals with variations of the name, such as Kopecz and Kopiecz, indicating that the spelling was not yet standardized.

In the 16th century, the name Kopec appeared in various Polish chronicles and manuscripts, including the "Acta Tomiciana," a collection of documents from the reign of King Sigismund I the Old. These records provide insights into the lives and activities of individuals bearing the name during this period.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Kopec surname gained prominence in several regions of Poland, particularly in the areas around Krakow and Poznan. Notable individuals from this time include Jan Kopec (1570-1631), a renowned Polish poet and writer, and Andrzej Kopec (1695-1763), a prominent Catholic priest and theologian.

As the Polish diaspora spread throughout Europe and beyond, the Kopec surname traveled with them. In the 19th century, we find records of individuals with this name in various European countries, such as Franciszek Kopec (1820-1884), a Polish-born painter and artist who worked in France.

Another notable figure was Józef Kopec (1876-1942), a Polish zoologist and biologist who made significant contributions to the field of embryology. He was a professor at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and served as the rector of the university from 1936 to 1939.

In the 20th century, the Kopec surname continued to be associated with accomplished individuals in various fields. For instance, Kazimierz Kopec (1904-1981) was a Polish actor and theater director who worked extensively in both Poland and the United States.

It is worth noting that the name Kopec has also been found in other Slavic countries, such as Czech Republic and Slovakia, where it likely shares a similar etymology and history to its Polish counterpart.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kopec surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kopec surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016. That gives Kopec a modern rank of #13,127.

What does the Kopec surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived on or near a hill or mountain.

What does the Kopec map show?

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