UK surname

Kosmala

Polish surname derived from the word "kosmat," meaning hairy or shaggy.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, Bath and North East Somerset and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kosmala is 114 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2016

114 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Map

Kosmala surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kosmala surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Kosmala 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	22	#35,584
1998	modern	24	#35,488
1999	modern	25	#35,413
2000	modern	24	#35,498
2001	modern	24	#35,357
2002	modern	26	#35,338
2003	modern	30	#35,046
2004	modern	31	#35,105
2005	modern	47	#34,011
2006	modern	61	#33,142
2007	modern	73	#32,287
2008	modern	80	#31,833
2009	modern	87	#31,489
2010	modern	90	#31,621
2011	modern	88	#31,801
2012	modern	106	#29,187
2013	modern	107	#29,561
2014	modern	111	#29,113
2015	modern	110	#29,157
2016	modern	114	#28,515

Geography

Where Kosmalas 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 Derby, Bath and North East Somerset, Kirklees, Dacorum and Kettering. 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	Derby 022	Derby
2	Bath and North East Somerset 027	Bath and North East Somerset
3	Kirklees 011	Kirklees
4	Dacorum 018	Dacorum
5	Kettering 006	Kettering

Forenames

First names often paired with Kosmala

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Rachel Katarzyna Anna Agnieszka Malgorzata Susan Monika Iwona Karolina Joanna

Recent male names

Tomasz Pawel Piotr Remigiusz Richard Rafal Timothy Hubert Grzegorz Marcin

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Kosmala

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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, Kosmala 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

Kosmala 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kosmala 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kosmala 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Kosmala

The surname KOSMALA is of Polish origin, originating in the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Polish word "kosmaty," meaning "hairy" or "shaggy." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname referring to an individual's physical appearance, particularly a person with a thick, bushy beard or head of hair.

The earliest recorded instances of the KOSMALA surname can be traced back to the 15th century in historical records and documents from various regions of Poland. One notable early bearer of this surname was Jan KOSMALA, a merchant and landowner from the city of Krakow, who lived in the late 1400s.

In the 16th century, the KOSMALA name appeared in the records of the town of Poznan, where a family of that name owned a prosperous bakery business. Around the same time, a soldier named Tomasz KOSMALA was mentioned in chronicles for his bravery during the Polish-Teutonic wars.

As the name spread across Poland over the centuries, it also took on various regional spelling variations, such as KOSMALLA, KOSMAL, and KOSMALSKI. Some of these variants may have originated from the incorporation of different Slavic suffixes or diminutive forms.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Franciszek KOSMALA gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and artisan in the city of Warsaw. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the Polish nobility and aristocracy.

Another individual of historical significance was Józef KOSMALA, a renowned painter and artist who lived in the 19th century. Born in 1824 in the village of Brzesko, his works primarily depicted landscapes and rural scenes, capturing the beauty of the Polish countryside. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Polish Realist movement in art.

During the 20th century, the KOSMALA surname gained further recognition through the accomplishments of individuals like Maria KOSMALA, a celebrated soprano opera singer who performed in major opera houses across Europe in the early 1900s, and Kazimierz KOSMALA, a respected philosopher and academic who taught at the University of Krakow from the 1930s to the 1960s.

While the KOSMALA surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has evolved over the centuries to become a distinct and recognized Polish surname, with a rich history and numerous notable bearers throughout various fields and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kosmala surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kosmala surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Kosmala a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Kosmala surname mean?