NameCensus.

UK surname

Kostka

A surname derived from the Polish word "kostka" meaning cube or dice.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Kostka surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thornhill, Rugby and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kostka is 109 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2014

109 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kostka had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kostka surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kostka surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kostka 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1997 modern 22 #35,584
1998 modern 27 #35,148
1999 modern 27 #35,224
2000 modern 33 #34,607
2001 modern 33 #34,436
2002 modern 34 #34,634
2003 modern 34 #34,681
2004 modern 36 #34,717
2005 modern 33 #35,119
2006 modern 37 #35,074
2007 modern 50 #34,347
2008 modern 69 #32,962
2009 modern 76 #32,635
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 82 #32,449
2012 modern 94 #31,258
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Kostkas 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 Thornhill, Rugby, Peterborough, Preston and South Hams. 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 Thornhill Dumfries and Galloway
2 Rugby 010 Rugby
3 Peterborough 014 Peterborough
4 Preston 014 Preston
5 South Hams 010 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kostka

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kostka

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kostka, 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 Kostka surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kostka 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kostka is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kostka is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kostka falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kostka is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kostka

The surname Kostka is of Polish origin, with roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "kostka," which translates to "cube" or "small bone." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with cubes or bones, such as a dice maker or a butcher.

The name Kostka first appeared in historical records from the region of Poznan, located in western Poland. The earliest known reference to the name can be found in a document dated 1387, which mentions a "Jan Kostka" residing in the town of Kalisz.

During the 15th century, the Kostka family gained prominence as members of the Polish nobility. One notable figure was Jan Kostka (1435-1505), a Polish nobleman and diplomat who served as a courtier to King Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk.

In the 16th century, the name Kostka was associated with Stanisław Kostka (1550-1568), a Polish novice in the Society of Jesus who was canonized as a saint in 1726. His family hailed from the village of Przytyk, near Radom.

Another prominent individual with the surname Kostka was Andrzej Kostka (1535-1605), a Polish nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Polish-Swedish War of 1600-1611.

During the 17th century, the name Kostka appeared in various Polish historical documents, including land records and tax registers. One notable example is the mention of a "Jakub Kostka" in the 1629 records of the city of Kraków.

In the 18th century, Jan Kostka (1714-1789) was a Polish priest and mathematician who made contributions to the field of calculus and authored several works on mathematics.

Throughout its history, the surname Kostka has been associated with various noble families and estates, particularly in the regions of Greater Poland and Mazovia. The name has also been linked to several place names in Poland, such as the village of Kostki near Łódź.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kostka families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kostka 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Kostkas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 1 Kostkas recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.19x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 1 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Frederica 1

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 Kostka households.

Occupation Count
Governess Unemployed 1

FAQ

Kostka surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kostka surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Kostka surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kostka surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Kostka a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Kostka surname mean?

A surname derived from the Polish word "kostka" meaning cube or dice.

What does the Kostka map show?

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