Explore the Family Name Koss
The meaning of Koss
1. Germanized or Americanized form of Polish, Slovenian, Croatian, Serbian, Czech, and Slovak Kos, Sorbian Kós ‘blackbird’. 2. East German: from a short form of the personal name Kosmas (see Kosman). 3. German: nickname for a gossip or a smooth-talker, a variant of Kose. 4. Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Kos.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Koss in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Koss" has seen significant growth between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Koss was ranked as the 4707th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had climbed to the 4147th spot, an elevation of 11.9%. The count of individuals with this surname also rose notably during this period, growing by 24.15% from 6882 in 2000 to 8544 in 2010. The proportion of people named Koss per 100k increased by 13.73%, indicating an overall rise in its prevalence.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,707 | #4,147 | 11.9% |
| Count | 6,882 | 8,544 | 24.15% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.55 | 2.9 | 13.73% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Koss
Ethnically, the distribution of the surname Koss has seen some shifts from 2000 to 2010 as per the Decennial U.S. Census. There was a slight increase in the percentages of Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indians and Alaskan Natives carrying the name, with changes of 2.17% and 30.95% respectively. The proportion of individuals identifying as two or more races and Black saw substantial increases of 53.39% and 53.76% respectively. However, there was a decrease in the percentage of White individuals with this surname by 8%. Lastly, the Hispanic representation among those with the surname Koss also grew by 48.85%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 86.36% | 79.45% | -8% |
| Black | 9.84% | 15.13% | 53.76% |
| Hispanic | 1.74% | 2.59% | 48.85% |
| Two or More Races | 1.18% | 1.81% | 53.39% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.42% | 0.55% | 30.95% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.46% | 0.47% | 2.17% |
Koss ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Koss is British & Irish, which comprises 30.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Eastern European (23.0%) and French & German (22.1%). Additional ancestries include Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Scandinavian, Greek & Balkan, and Spanish & Portuguese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 30.8% |
| Eastern European | 23.0% |
| French & German | 22.1% |
| Other | 24.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Koss
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Koss have recent ancestry locations in United Kingdom and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 63.80% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 63.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 63.00% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 63.00% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 63.00% |
What Koss haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Koss is R-CTS3402, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS3402 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include R-M417 and R-P312, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Balogh, Baran, Bartz, Schramm, Wrobel, Olszewski, Borowski, Wojciechowski, Zielinski, Gregor.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Koss surname are: H1, H, U5a. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Koss have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Koss" Surname 52.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Koss" Surname 31.6%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Koss" Surname 15.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Koss" Surname 22.3%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Koss?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Koss are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition