NameCensus.

UK surname

Koser

A German occupational surname referring to an innkeeper or maker of liquor.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Koser surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 173, ranked #21,561, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Bradford and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Koser is 187 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4225.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

173

2016, ranked #21,561

Peak year

2009

187 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Koser had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016, ranked #21,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Koser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Koser surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Koser 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 96 #27,490
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 126 #23,883
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 150 #21,669
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 181 #19,875
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 186 #20,379
2011 modern 181 #20,579
2012 modern 179 #20,679
2013 modern 183 #20,722
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 180 #20,997
2016 modern 173 #21,561

Geography

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Where Kosers 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 Oldham, Bradford, Manchester and Worcester. 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 Oldham 035 Oldham
2 Bradford 008 Bradford
3 Manchester 030 Manchester
4 Oldham 022 Oldham
5 Worcester 011 Worcester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Koser

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Koser

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Koser is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Koser 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

Koser 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 Koser is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Koser

The surname Koser has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the 16th century in the regions of modern-day Germany and Austria. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "kos," which means "pleasant conversation" or "banter," suggesting that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone known for their affable or talkative nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Koser name can be found in the parish records of the town of Schmalkalden in Thuringia, Germany, where a certain Hans Koser was documented as a resident in the year 1543. Another early reference comes from the town of Salzburg, Austria, where a family bearing the name Koser was mentioned in local records dating back to the late 16th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Koser surname gained prominence in various parts of Germany, with notable individuals such as Johann Koser (1628-1701), a respected theologian and author from Saxony, and Friedrich Koser (1723-1789), a prominent merchant and landowner from Hesse.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it also underwent variations in spelling, including Koser, Koszer, and Kosser. Additionally, some records indicate that the name may have been derived from the German word "Kose," meaning "term of endearment" or "caress," which could suggest an alternative origin related to someone with an affectionate or gentle demeanor.

In the 19th century, the Koser name found its way to other parts of Europe and even to the United States through immigration. One notable figure was Karl Koser (1843-1917), a German-American businessman and philanthropist who settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and made significant contributions to the city's cultural and educational institutions.

Another prominent individual bearing the Koser surname was Johann Koser (1865-1951), a German historian and archivist who served as the director of the Prussian State Archives in Berlin and authored several influential works on German history.

While the surname Koser is not among the most common in German-speaking regions, it has left a lasting imprint on various spheres of society, from academia and literature to business and philanthropy, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who have carried this name throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Koser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Koser surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 3 Kosers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.79x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 3 7.79x
Middlesex 1 2.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 3 Kosers recorded in 1881 and an index of 322.58x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 3 322.58x
Whitechapel London 1 263.16x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Koser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Susan 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Koser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Henry 3

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Koser households.

FAQ

Koser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Koser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Koser surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Koser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016. That gives Koser a modern rank of #21,561.

What does the Koser surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to an innkeeper or maker of liquor.

What does the Koser map show?

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