NameCensus.

UK surname

Kostov

A surname derived from the Slavic word "kost" meaning bone, likely referring to an occupation related to bone carving or processing.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tandridge, Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kostov is 139 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

2014

139 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kostov surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kostov surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kostov 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 3 #38,317
1998 modern 3 #38,304
1999 modern 4 #38,100
2000 modern 6 #37,624
2001 modern 5 #37,652
2002 modern 6 #37,532
2003 modern 12 #36,715
2004 modern 18 #36,245
2005 modern 20 #36,165
2006 modern 25 #35,903
2007 modern 32 #35,530
2008 modern 38 #35,262
2009 modern 51 #34,612
2010 modern 66 #33,791
2011 modern 82 #32,449
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Kostovs 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 Tandridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Walsall and Hounslow. 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 Tandridge 007 Tandridge
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 024 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 North Tyneside 009 North Tyneside
4 Walsall 021 Walsall
5 Hounslow 020 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kostov

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kostov

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kostov 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

Kostov 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

Kostov falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kostov 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.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kostov

The surname KOSTOV originated in Bulgaria, deriving from the Slavic root word "kost" meaning "bone." It first appeared in the 9th century AD, during the First Bulgarian Empire, when surnames began to emerge as a way to distinguish individuals within communities.

The name likely referred to a person's physical characteristics, occupation, or place of origin related to bones or bone crafting. Early variations included Kostov, Kostolov, and Kostich. It was most prevalent in the regions of Thrace and Macedonia, which were part of the Bulgarian Empire at that time.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the KOSTOV surname can be found in a 12th-century manuscript from the Rila Monastery, which lists a certain "Petar Kostov" as a landowner in the Sredna Gora region.

In the 14th century, a nobleman named Dimitar Kostov was a prominent figure in the court of Tsar Ivan Alexander, serving as a military commander and diplomat. He is mentioned in several historical chronicles from that era.

During the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria, the KOSTOV surname remained prevalent, particularly among the Bulgarian Christian population. In the 16th century, a merchant named Stoyan Kostov was recorded as having trade connections with Venice and other Mediterranean ports.

One of the most famous bearers of the KOSTOV surname was Vasil Kostov (1773-1839), a Bulgarian Revolutionary and a leader of the Velchova Conspiracy against Ottoman rule. His efforts played a crucial role in the Bulgarian National Revival movement.

Another notable figure was Petko Kostov (1842-1897), a Bulgarian writer, teacher, and public figure who contributed significantly to the development of modern Bulgarian literature and education.

In more recent history, Traicho Kostov (1897-1949) was a prominent Bulgarian communist politician and a close associate of Georgi Dimitrov. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Affairs in the early years of communist rule in Bulgaria.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kostov surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kostov surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Kostov a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Kostov surname mean?

A surname derived from the Slavic word "kost" meaning bone, likely referring to an occupation related to bone carving or processing.

What does the Kostov map show?

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