UK surname
A Finnish toponymic surname referring to someone living near rapids or a waterfall.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Koski surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, - and Christ Church Spitalfields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Koski is 137 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1901
137 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Koski surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Koski surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 33 | #31,681 |
| 1901 | historical | 137 | #19,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, -, Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and St Mary Whitechapel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Botolph Aldgate | London (Central Districts) |
| 2 | - | City Of London |
| 3 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 5 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Koski surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Koski, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Koski surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Koski household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Koski is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Koski is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Koski, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Koski originated from Finland, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Finnish word "koski," which means "rapids" or "waterfall," indicating that the name likely referred to a person who lived near a fast-moving stream or waterfall.
Koski is a common Finnish place name, and many early instances of the surname are found in connection with these locations. For example, in the parish records of Tammela, Finland, there are references to individuals with the surname Koski as early as the mid-1500s.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Koski appeared in various historical records and documents across Finland. One notable example is the Vanha Suomen Kartasto, a collection of old maps and cadastral records from the 17th century, which includes mentions of individuals and families with the Koski surname.
In the 19th century, several individuals with the surname Koski gained recognition in various fields. Juho Koski (1824-1890) was a Finnish writer and journalist who contributed to the development of Finnish literature. Kaarlo Koski (1847-1928) was a prominent Finnish architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in Helsinki.
Other notable individuals with the surname Koski include Antti Koski (1826-1883), a Finnish politician and member of the Finnish Senate, and Yrjö Koski (1911-2003), a Finnish artist and sculptor whose works were exhibited throughout Europe and the United States.
The surname Koski has also been found in historical records from other Nordic countries, such as Sweden and Norway, where it may have been adopted by Finnish immigrants or derived from similar geographical features.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Koski surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 26 Koskis recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 26 | 10.25x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromley London in Middlesex leads with 10 Koskis recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.21x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bromley London | 10 | 179.21x |
| Whitechapel London | 7 | 280.00x |
| Mile End New Town London | 6 | 1200.00x |
| St Botolph Aldgate London | 3 | 576.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Koski surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Koski surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Koski households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Clothier (Tailor) | 3 |
| Infant | 3 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Koski surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Koski a modern rank of #37,278.
A Finnish toponymic surname referring to someone living near rapids or a waterfall.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Koski bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.