NameCensus.

UK surname

Kula

A Polish or Ukrainian habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "ball" or "sphere" in Polish.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, East Staffordshire and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kula is 218 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

217

2016, ranked #18,535

Peak year

2014

218 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016, ranked #18,535.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kula surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kula surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kula 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
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 20 #35,809
1998 modern 24 #35,488
1999 modern 25 #35,413
2000 modern 22 #35,684
2001 modern 22 #35,531
2002 modern 24 #35,520
2003 modern 33 #34,773
2004 modern 37 #34,640
2005 modern 57 #33,178
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 106 #27,722
2008 modern 116 #26,510
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 198 #19,657
2014 modern 218 #18,583
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 217 #18,535

Geography

Back to top

Where Kulas 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 North Lincolnshire, East Staffordshire, Bradford, Nottingham and South Kesteven. 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 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire
2 East Staffordshire 011 East Staffordshire
3 Bradford 061 Bradford
4 Nottingham 004 Nottingham
5 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kula

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kula

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

Kula 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kula

The surname KULA originates from Poland, with its roots dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Polish word "kula," which means "ball" or "sphere." This may have been a reference to a person's physical appearance or occupation.

In the early days, the name was commonly found in the regions of Wielkopolska, Mazowsze, and Małopolska. Historical records indicate that variations of the spelling, such as "Kul," "Kulik," and "Kulak," were also prevalent.

One of the earliest documented references to the name KULA can be found in the Tyniec Monastery records from the 13th century, where a certain Jakub Kula is mentioned as a landowner in the village of Skawina.

During the 14th century, the KULA surname gained prominence, with notable figures like Jan Kula, a renowned merchant and trader who established trade routes between Poland and the Hanseatic League cities.

In the 16th century, the name KULA appeared in the Metryka Koronna, a collection of official records from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. One such entry mentions a Marcin Kula, born in 1532, who served as a court scribe in Kraków.

The 17th century saw the rise of Mikołaj Kula (1598-1671), a respected scholar and author who wrote extensively on topics ranging from philosophy to theology.

In the 18th century, the KULA surname was associated with several prominent military figures. Tomasz Kula (1722-1794) was a decorated cavalry officer who fought in the Polish-Russian War of 1768-1772.

The 19th century brought forth Karol Kula (1829-1897), a renowned painter and educator who played a significant role in the development of Polish art education.

Throughout history, the KULA surname has been linked to various locations, including the villages of Kulawy, Kulawka, and Kulaki, which may have contributed to the surname's origin and widespread use.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kula surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kula surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016. That gives Kula a modern rank of #18,535.

What does the Kula surname mean?

A Polish or Ukrainian habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "ball" or "sphere" in Polish.

What does the Kula map show?

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