NameCensus.

UK surname

Koval

A Ukrainian occupational surname referring to a blacksmith or metalworker.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Koval surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, up from #34,027 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Koval is 112 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2016

112 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Koval had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Koval surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Koval surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Koval 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 25 #35,261
1998 modern 27 #35,148
1999 modern 28 #35,127
2000 modern 28 #35,080
2001 modern 27 #35,041
2002 modern 28 #35,139
2003 modern 31 #34,957
2004 modern 37 #34,640
2005 modern 41 #34,478
2006 modern 55 #33,688
2007 modern 62 #33,346
2008 modern 64 #33,402
2009 modern 61 #33,915
2010 modern 69 #33,560
2011 modern 72 #33,323
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Kovals 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 Bradford, Torridge, Oldham and Tendring. 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 Bradford 048 Bradford
2 Bradford 050 Bradford
3 Torridge 001 Torridge
4 Oldham 021 Oldham
5 Tendring 009 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Koval

These lists show first names that appear often with the Koval 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 Koval

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

Koval 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

Koval 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 Koval 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Koval

The surname Koval originated in Eastern Europe, primarily in Ukraine, Belarus, and parts of Russia. It is believed to have derived from the Slavic word "koval," which means "blacksmith" or "metalworker." This occupational surname likely emerged during the medieval period when surnames began to gain prominence.

The name Koval can be traced back to the 15th century in various historical records and documents. For instance, the name appears in the Metryka Litewska, a collection of administrative records from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which covered parts of modern-day Belarus, Ukraine, and Lithuania.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Koval was Petro Koval, a blacksmith who lived in the village of Kozelets, near Chernihiv, Ukraine, in the late 15th century. His name is mentioned in the Litovskaya Metrika, a collection of legal documents from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

In the 16th century, the name Koval was also found in the Akty Zapadnoy Rossii, a collection of historical documents from Western Russia. One notable mention is of Ivan Koval, a metalworker from the town of Smolensk, who was involved in the construction of a local church in the 1540s.

The surname Koval has been associated with various place names throughout Eastern Europe. For example, the village of Kovalivka in Ukraine is believed to have derived its name from the presence of blacksmiths or metalworkers in the area.

Several notable individuals with the surname Koval have made significant contributions throughout history. One such figure is Mykola Koval (1898-1978), a Ukrainian painter and art educator who played a crucial role in the development of modern Ukrainian art.

Another prominent individual is Yuri Koval (1938-2003), a Soviet and Russian actor known for his roles in numerous films and television shows. He was awarded the prestigious title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation in 1992.

In the field of literature, Vasyl Koval (1921-2005) was a renowned Ukrainian writer and poet. He authored numerous works, including novels, poetry collections, and children's books, and received various literary awards for his contributions.

In the realm of sports, Olha Koval (born 1973) is a Ukrainian former professional tennis player who achieved notable success in the 1990s and early 2000s. She won three singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of No. 20 in the world.

Lastly, Volodymyr Koval (1942-2003) was a prominent Ukrainian politician and economist who served as the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 1992 to 1994 during a critical period of the country's transition to independence and market reforms.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Koval families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Koval 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 Kovals 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. St Botolph Aldgate London in Middlesex leads with 1 Kovals recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 5000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Josef 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 Koval households.

Occupation Count
Farm Laborer 1

FAQ

Koval surname: questions and answers

How common was the Koval surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Koval surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Koval a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Koval surname mean?

A Ukrainian occupational surname referring to a blacksmith or metalworker.

What does the Koval map show?

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