Surname Kaslauskas - Meaning and Origin

Kaslauskas: What does the surname Kaslauskas mean?

The Lithuanian surname Kaslauskas originates from a place-name meaning “belonging to Kaslauka” or “from Kaslauka.” Kaslauka is a small village in Lithuania located near the city of Alytus, which is located on the Niemen River.

The original inhabitants of the area were Slavic, and the Kaslauskas family likely has Slavic roots. In addition to the Kaslauskas surname, other variations include Kaslauski, Kaseliauski, Kaslauskaja, Kaslauskaitė, Kaslauša, Kaslaušaitis, and Kaslaušas.

It is likely that the Kaslauskas family lived in one of the three villages belonging to the Kaslauskas family estate in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Kaslauskas family had occupations as traders, farmers, beekeepers, and even cowherds. Allied with the Sluckevičius, the Kaslauskas formed a powerful lineage that gave rise to several influential members of society, including Lithuanian politicians and soldiers.

Due to their noble heritage, the Kaslauskas clan held a high social standing in Lithuanian society and their name has become symbolic of hard work and exceptional achievements. The Kaslauskas family has spread far and wide, having descendants living in countries including the United States, Canada, France, and Lithuania.

Kaslauskas: Where does the name Kaslauskas come from?

The last name Kaslauskas is most commonly found amongst families originating from Lithuania. It is first found in written documents as far back as the 14th century and is of noble or aristocrat stock, part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Kaslauskas name is still popular across Lithuania with variants such as Kalsauskas or Kuslauskas, but it is not particularly widespread in other parts of the world.

Lithuania is a small nation located in the northern part of Europe, in the northwestern region of the former Soviet Union. Due to its central geographical location, Lithuania has a long history of foreign interference and displacement - from the Swedish to the Teutonic Knights to Nazi Germany. As a result, many Lithuanian families have been forced to migrate to different parts of the world in search of a better life.

While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where Kaslauskas families can be found today, other than Lithuania, it is thought that a number of them migrated to the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly to cities such as Chicago and New York. Within the US, the surname Kaslauskas can also be found predominantly in states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, and Michigan.

Due to the spread of the surname, Kaslauskas has also become a common name across Latin America, with the most significant diaspora residing in parts of Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Kaslauskas families are also found today in countries such as Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Kaslauskas

The surname Kaslauskas is derived from the Eastern European countries of Lithuania and Belarus, and is predominantly found in these parts of the world. The variants and spellings of the surname Kaslauskas include Kaslauski, Kryzlauskas, Kaslousky, Kaslauskas, Kaslawski, Kaslawsky, Kalsauskas, Kaslowksi, Kasluauskas, and Kasluowski. Those with the surname Kaslauskas are also known as Kaslauske as well as Kaslauskes.

In Lithuania, the Kaslauskas surname has an associated coat of arms, which consists of a black shield, charged with a gold lion, rampant. This lion is armed of yellow and holds a silver anchor between its front legs. The crest behind it is a black and white eagle. The motto that goes with the Kaslauskas coat of arms reads "Passam vel Tu probas," meaning "You shall try my patience."

In the United States, the Kaslauskas surname is relatively rare, with only about 1,300 individuals bearing the name as of the last census. Historically, many of these individuals have been immigrants from Lithuania or Belarus, though many of their descendants may have taken other surnames over the years.

The earliest historical mention of the Kaslauskas surname goes back to the year 1268 in Lithuania. This record was found in the Genealogical material which was held in the Lithuanian and Belarusian Archives. At this time, it was common for individuals to take or be given surnames that identified their occupation. It is likely that the Kaslauskas surname may have been derived from the Old Lithuanian word Kaslauske, meaning "town dweller" or "local inhabitant," although other interpretations are possible.

Famous people with the name Kaslauskas

• LiAngelo Ball: American basketball player; son of LaVar Ball
• Ryan Kaslauskas: American professional golfer
• Arnoldo Kaslauskas- Chilean professional football player
• Emilija Kaslauskas: Lithuanian opera singer
• Violeta Kaslauskas: Mexican actress
• Aleksas Kaslauskas: Lithuanian actor
• Jonas Kaslauskas: Lithuanian artist
• Darius Kaslauskas: Lithuanian operatic tenor
• Simonas Kaslauskas: Lithuanian football player
• Marius Kaslauskas: Lithuanian sprint canoer

Other surnames

Kaslauskis