NameCensus.

UK surname

Kurek

A Polish surname derived from a word meaning "cockerel" or "rooster".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Kurek surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 323, ranked #13,997, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Pembrokeshire and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kurek is 333 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32200.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

323

2016, ranked #13,997

Peak year

2013

333 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kurek had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 323 in 2016, ranked #13,997.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kurek surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kurek surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kurek 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 1 #34,435
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 65 #31,141
1998 modern 72 #30,775
1999 modern 73 #30,856
2000 modern 83 #29,809
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 89 #29,380
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 115 #25,702
2006 modern 163 #20,789
2007 modern 198 #18,600
2008 modern 210 #18,052
2009 modern 222 #17,797
2010 modern 255 #16,563
2011 modern 279 #15,353
2012 modern 320 #13,868
2013 modern 333 #13,682
2014 modern 333 #13,770
2015 modern 326 #13,898
2016 modern 323 #13,997

Geography

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Where Kureks 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 Isle of Wight, Pembrokeshire, Haringey, Merton and Wakefield. 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 Isle of Wight 009 Isle of Wight
2 Pembrokeshire 010 Pembrokeshire
3 Haringey 027 Haringey
4 Merton 007 Merton
5 Wakefield 042 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kurek

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kurek

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kurek is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kurek 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

Kurek falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kurek 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 Kurek, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kurek

The surname Kurek has its origins in Poland, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the Polish word "kurek," which means "little rooster" or "cockerel." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for someone with a strutting gait or a boisterous personality akin to a rooster.

In the early days, surnames were often bestowed based on physical attributes, occupations, or places of origin. The name Kurek likely originated as a descriptive nickname before becoming a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kurek can be found in a document from the city of Krakow, dating back to 1390. This document mentions a certain "Jakub Kurek," who was a landowner in the surrounding area.

During the 15th century, the name appears in various Polish municipal records, such as those from the towns of Sandomierz and Poznan. These records often list individuals with the surname Kurek as merchants, artisans, or landowners, indicating their established presence in urban and rural communities.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Kurek was Jan Kurek, a Polish mathematician and astronomer born in 1530. He is known for his contributions to the development of the Gregorian calendar and his work on the theory of planetary motion.

Another prominent individual with the surname Kurek was Stanisław Kurek, a 17th-century Polish military leader and politician. He served as a commander in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's army during the wars against Sweden and played a crucial role in defending the city of Lviv.

In the 18th century, the name Kurek gained further recognition with Franciszek Kurek, a renowned Polish painter and engraver born in 1755. His works, which often depicted religious and mythological scenes, are considered important examples of the Baroque and Rococo styles in Polish art.

Moving into the 19th century, the surname Kurek continued to be associated with notable figures, such as Józef Kurek, a Polish writer and journalist born in 1819. He was a prominent advocate for Polish independence and played an active role in the Polish national revival movement.

Throughout its history, the surname Kurek has been found in various regions of Poland, including the historic regions of Silesia, Pomerania, and Lesser Poland. However, its roots can be traced back to the central and southern parts of the country, where it likely originated and gained prominence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kurek families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kurek 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 Kureks 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. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 1 Kureks recorded in 1881 and an index of 476.19x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 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 Kurek households.

Occupation Count
Butchers Wife 1

FAQ

Kurek surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kurek surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Kurek surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 323 in 2016. That gives Kurek a modern rank of #13,997.

What does the Kurek surname mean?

A Polish surname derived from a word meaning "cockerel" or "rooster".

What does the Kurek map show?

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