NameCensus.

UK surname

Kozak

A Polish and Ukrainian occupational surname referring to a Cossack, a member of a self-governing military community.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Oxford and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kozak is 527 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

527

2016, ranked #9,622

Peak year

2016

527 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 527 in 2016, ranked #9,622.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kozak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kozak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kozak 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 147 #22,110
2000 modern 152 #21,603
2001 modern 140 #22,441
2002 modern 154 #21,531
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 180 #19,424
2005 modern 211 #17,520
2006 modern 265 #15,126
2007 modern 305 #13,891
2008 modern 350 #12,694
2009 modern 382 #12,150
2010 modern 390 #12,233
2011 modern 399 #11,882
2012 modern 454 #10,588
2013 modern 485 #10,267
2014 modern 498 #10,102
2015 modern 506 #9,916
2016 modern 527 #9,622

Geography

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Where Kozaks 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 Southwark, Oxford, Barnsley, Inverness West Rural and Powys. 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 Southwark 006 Southwark
2 Oxford 013 Oxford
3 Barnsley 009 Barnsley
4 Inverness West Rural Highland
5 Powys 013 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kozak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kozak

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kozak is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kozak 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

Kozak 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 Kozak 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 Kozak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kozak

The surname Kozak is of Ukrainian and Polish origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Ukrainian and Polish word "kozak," which means a free man or a member of the Cossack military communities.

The Cossacks were semi-nomadic people who lived in the steppes of present-day Ukraine and southern Russia. They were known for their horsemanship, military prowess, and fiercely independent spirit. The name Kozak was likely given to individuals who were associated with or members of these Cossack communities.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kozak can be found in the Polish noble registry known as the "Metryka Koronna" from the 16th century. It lists several individuals with the surname Kozak, indicating that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 17th century, the Cossacks played a significant role in the Khmelnytsky Uprising, a major rebellion against Polish rule in Ukraine. One notable figure from this era was Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1595-1657), a Cossack leader who led the uprising and established the Cossack Hetmanate, a semi-autonomous state in Ukraine.

Another prominent individual with the surname Kozak was Semen Kozak (1652-1708), a Ukrainian military leader and diplomat who served as the secretary of the Zaporozhian Host, a Cossack military organization.

In the 19th century, the name Kozak was associated with the Kuban Cossacks, a Cossack community that settled in the Kuban region of Russia. One famous Kuban Cossack was Kondrat Kozak (1810-1879), a military leader and hero of the Caucasian War.

Over time, the surname Kozak spread beyond its initial Ukrainian and Polish roots, and individuals with this name can be found in various parts of Europe and the Americas, likely due to migration and diaspora communities.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kozak include Jerzy Kozak (1957-2020), a Polish diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland from 2005 to 2006, and Sergei Kozak (born 1959), a Russian politician and former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kozak surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kozak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 527 in 2016. That gives Kozak a modern rank of #9,622.

What does the Kozak surname mean?

A Polish and Ukrainian occupational surname referring to a Cossack, a member of a self-governing military community.

What does the Kozak map show?

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