NameCensus.

UK surname

Kulak

A pejorative term used in the Soviet Union for wealthy peasants and land-owning farmers.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kulak is 107 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

2014

107 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kulak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kulak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kulak 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 34 #34,282
1998 modern 33 #34,532
1999 modern 33 #34,610
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 37 #34,082
2002 modern 37 #34,390
2003 modern 37 #34,432
2004 modern 35 #34,783
2005 modern 34 #35,056
2006 modern 41 #34,788
2007 modern 46 #34,634
2008 modern 54 #34,232
2009 modern 63 #33,751
2010 modern 68 #33,632
2011 modern 71 #33,392
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 100 #30,773
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Kulaks 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 Hackney, Westminster, Bradford and Cheshire East. 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 Hackney 025 Hackney
2 Westminster 022 Westminster
3 Westminster 005 Westminster
4 Bradford 037 Bradford
5 Cheshire East 038 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kulak

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

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

Kulak 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

Kulak falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kulak is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kulak

The surname Kulak is of Russian origin, derived from the Old Russian word "kulak" meaning "fist". The name dates back to the 15th century and was originally used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a large, powerful fist or a strong, forceful individual.

The earliest known recording of the Kulak surname can be found in the Veliky Novgorod Chronicles from the late 15th century, where it was used to refer to a prominent merchant or trader. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions around Moscow and Novgorod, and later spread to other parts of Russia as the population migrated.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the Kulak surname was Ivan Kulak, a wealthy merchant from Novgorod who lived in the early 16th century. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his involvement in local politics.

Another notable figure was Stepan Kulak, a military commander who served under Tsar Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. He was renowned for his bravery and military tactics during the Livonian War.

In the 17th century, the Kulak surname was associated with the emergence of a class of wealthy peasants in Russia known as "kulaks". These prosperous farmers were often targeted by the Bolshevik regime during the Soviet era for their perceived resistance to collectivization efforts.

A prominent individual from this period was Pyotr Kulak, a wealthy landowner and farmer from the Voronezh region, who was executed during the Dekulakization campaign in the early 1930s.

In the 19th century, the Kulak surname appeared in various literary works, such as the novels of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy, reflecting its presence in Russian society at the time.

One notable figure from this era was Mikhail Kulak, a renowned sculptor and artist born in 1833 in Moscow. His works were exhibited in major exhibitions and can be found in museums across Russia.

Throughout history, the Kulak surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, military leaders, landowners, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kulak surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kulak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Kulak a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Kulak surname mean?

A pejorative term used in the Soviet Union for wealthy peasants and land-owning farmers.

What does the Kulak map show?

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