Explore the Family Name Kobza
The meaning of Kobza
Polish, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Hungarian: from Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, and Slovak kobza, a term of Ukrainian and ultimately Turkic origin (related to Turkish kopuz for a one-stringed guitar), denoting a kind of originally Ukrainian musical instrument resembling a lute, hence a metonymic occupational name for a lutenist or a troubadour. The same name is also used for some other similar Eastern European instruments.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kobza in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Kobza has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname held the rank of 35,187 in terms of popularity while it slipped down to 36,048 by 2010, marking a decrease of 2.45%. The number of people bearing the surname increased marginally from 606 to 622, representing a rise of 2.64%. However, the proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 4.55% from 0.22 to 0.21.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #35,187 | #36,048 | -2.45% |
| Count | 606 | 622 | 2.64% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.22 | 0.21 | -4.55% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kobza
Turning to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority (95.98%) of individuals with the surname Kobza identified as White in 2010, a minor drop of 0.91% from 2000 when 96.86% identified as such. The Hispanic segment witnessed a reduction of 13.42%, going from 1.49% in 2000 to 1.29% in 2010. There was a noticeable emergence of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those belonging to two or more races during this period, both groups constituting approximately 1% each in 2010, whereas no individuals from these groups were recorded in 2000. Data for Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained unchanged with no individuals identifying as such in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.86% | 95.98% | -0.91% |
| Hispanic | 1.49% | 1.29% | -13.42% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.13% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0.96% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |