Kovčalija families are Croats and they are mostly from Bosnian Krajina. In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Bosnian Krajina (Mrkonjic Grad area) and in Osijek.
Prevalence
About 140 people with faimily name Kovčalija live in Croatia today, in 60 households. There were 20 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number multiplied. They are located in the most of Croatian counties, in 16 cities and 12 other places, mostly in Dalj in Vinkovci area (30), Velika Gorica (15), Osijek (15), Sarengrad (15), and in Ilok (10).
Outside Croatia
Family name Kovčalija is present in this form only in Croatia.
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned few times, the first time 2007 in source Encyclopaedia of Croatian Surnames.