Surname Koslovsky - Meaning and Origin

Koslovsky: What does the surname Koslovsky mean?

The last name Koslovsky is of Russian origin but it's also found amongst Ukrainian, Belarusian and Polish communities. It is a patronymic surname derived from the Slavic personal name "Kozel", which means "male goat". The "-sky" suffix means "of" or "from", indicating a geographic or familial association. Therefore, Koslovsky can mean "from Kozel" or "son of Kozel", indicating descent from a person named Kozel. It could also refer to individuals or families originating from several places named Kozlov in former Eastern Bloc countries. Given the common use of animals in names historically, Kozel may have been a nickname for someone with attributes associated with a goat, such as stubbornness or agility. Like most surnames, specific meanings can vary based on family histories and regional interpretations.

Koslovsky: Where does the name Koslovsky come from?

The last name Koslovsky is a Slavic last name primarily found in Russia and Ukraine, but it is also found spread across other parts of Europe and North America. In its country of origin, Koslovsky is a common name and can often be found in the top 200 most popular surnames in Russia.

In the United States, Koslovsky is considerably less common. According to Census records, it is the 2,228th most common surname in the US. Its presence is felt in some direct-line Koslovsky families as well as among Russian, Ukrainian and other Eastern European immigrants who have adopted the name in the US.

Koslovsky families can also be found in Canada, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, Australia, and even in places such as Brazil and Argentina, began moving to these lands in the late 1800s and early 1900s to take advantage of economic opportunities.

Despite the dispersion of the name across several different countries, evidence suggests that the majority of Koslovsky families today can still be found in Russia and Ukraine, where the surname first began its journey centuries ago.

Variations of the surname Koslovsky

The variant spellings and surnames that originate from the surname Koslovsky are Koslowski, Koslofsky, Kozlovsky, Kozlowksi, Kozlofsky, and Kozlovski.

Kozlovski (also spelled as Kozlowski and Kozlovsky) is the Polish spelling of the surname. It is derived from the suffix "owski," which is used to indicate relation to a particular place (in this case, Kozlove, which is part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania). This variant of the surname is the most common in modern-day Poland.

Koslowski (sometimes spelled Koslowksi) can also be derived from the Polish spelling of Koslove. This variation is more commonly found among those of German heritage.

Koslofsky (also spelled as Kozlofsky) is typically used by descendants of Russian or Ukrainian Jewish immigrants. This variation comes from the Russian rooting — Koslof (or Kolod, in Ukrainian), which means "little hill."

Kozlovsky (also spelled as Kozlovski) is the Russian form of the spelling, derived from Kozlov, a place name deriving from the word ‘Kaz’, meaning ‘goat’. This form of the name is the most common amongst people of Russian or Ukrainian descent in Russia and Ukraine.

In short, the various surnames and spelling variants of Koslovsky are related either to the places of Kozlove or Koslove (Poland) and Kozlov or Koslof (Russia/Ukraine), all of which mean ‘little hill’ or ‘goat’ in different languages.

Famous people with the name Koslovsky

• Yevgeny Koslovsky (1908-1975): Soviet actor, director, and screenwriter known for his work in a number of popular Soviet films such as White Sun of the Desert and Crossroads.
• Yevgeny Koslovsky (1903-1989): Ukrainian-born Soviet diplomat and historian who was the first Soviet ambassador to the United Kingdom and the author of several books on the history of diplomacy and international relations.
• Mark Koslovsky (1985-present): Russian entrepreneur and inventor who is best known for his work in the development of child safety and security products.
• Aleksandr Koslovsky (1917-1985): Soviet theater director who served as the chief director of the Mossovet Theater in Moscow during the 1950s.
• Stanislav Koslovsky (1929-2009): Soviet film producer, best known for his work producing several popular Soviet films such as King Lear, Ivan the Terrible, and Anna Karenina.
• Alexander Koslovsky (1921: 2012): A Soviet-born actor and director, best known for his work in the films Who is to Blame (1960) and Adam’s Rib (1971).
• Konstantin Koslovsky (1937-present): Russian animator, director, and screenwriter, noted for his work in the Russian animated films Littlers and the Secret Book (1987) and Peter Pan (1996).
• Evgeny Koslovsky (1949-present): Russian composer, best known for scoring the animated film The Ugly Duckling (1999).
• Valery Koslovsky (1948-present): A Russian theater director, best known for his work in the Stanislavsky Theater of Russia.
• Michael Koslovsky (born 1950): American-born Israeli scientist, most notably known for his work on developing the field of artificial intelligence.

Other surnames

Koslovski