Surname Kosow - Meaning and Origin
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Kosow: What does the surname Kosow mean?
The surname Kosow is of Polish origin and most likely derives from a place-name. Several towns and villages in Poland are called Kosowo or Kosów, and the surname may have initially indicated a person who originated from one of these places. As with most surnames that are derived from place names, this doesn't necessarily mean that all people with the surname Kosow are related or that their ancestors come from the same location. The word kosów itself means "blackbird" in Polish, but this may not have any particular significance in the context of the surname. Therefore, Kosow, like many surnames, primarily serves as an identifier of geographical or familial origin.
Order DNA origin analysisKosow: Where does the name Kosow come from?
The last name Kosow does not have a definitive origin as it is common in various countries and can be attributed to diverse backgrounds. It has presence in Eastern Europe, specifically in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia, where it may originate from the name of several places termed Kosów or Kosov. The surname Kosow could also be of Polish origin, deriving from the Polish word "kos", meaning blackbird. In Israel, it's a common Ashkenazi Jewish surname, often associated with immigrants from Eastern Europe.
There's also a possibility that it relates to the Kosovar community, hinting at Albanian origins. Lastly, it might be from Jewish-Yiddish origins, meaning "kosher for Passover".
Today, people with the last name Kosow can be found all around the globe, particularly in the United States, Israel, and various countries in Europe. Thus, although the origins are debatable, Kosow remains a globally present surname with the highest concentrations in the United States, followed by Israel and European countries, particularly those of Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Kosow
The surname Kosow has multiple variants and spellings across different cultures and regions. It is an Eastern European surname and can appear in various forms such as Kossow, Kossow, Kozlov, Kossoff, Kozloff, Kozlova, and Kossowicz. The underlying root of these names is 'koz', which means 'goat' in Slavic languages; hence, it could imply a person who breeds or trades goats. In terms of surnames with the same origin, contextual variations include Kozak, Kowalski, Kozlowski, and others.
These variants are primarily due to differences in language, region, and the localization of the name. For instance, in Russia, one might find Kozlov, whereas in Poland, the variant could be Kozłowski. Similarly, Kossow might be used in Germany. Moreover, the female form of the surname also varies. For instance, in Russia, Kozlova is used for females as surnames are generally gendered.
The spellings also change owing to transliteration from Cyrillic to Latin letters. In general, multiple variations of the surname exist due to immigration, translation, or simple misspellings over time. As a result, all these versions must be considered while researching family histories or genealogy related to the surname Kosow.
Famous people with the name Kosow
- Martin Kosow — a physicist and cosmologist from Poland
- Rachel Kosow — a dancer and choreographer from the U.S.
- Matthew Kosow — an actor and producer from the U.S.
- Efraim Kosow — a rabbi from Poland
- Josiah Kosow — a musician and composer from the U.S.
- Randall Kosow — a comedian and writer from the U.S.
- Lawrence Kosow — a composer of Jewish religious music from the U.S.
- Olga Kosow —a sculptor from the U.S.
- Moshe Kosow — a Jewish scholar from Israel
- David Kosow — a rabbi and lecturer from the U.S.