Surname Kozlowsky - Meaning and Origin

Kozlowsky: What does the surname Kozlowsky mean?

Kozlowsky is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Kozlo, which originated from the old Polish name Kozimierz, meaning ‘The One who Cuts’. It is of Slavic origin and can be found throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Specifically, the name can be found amongst Poles and Ukrainians, and even within other Slavic countries like Belarus, Russia, and Slovenia.

Mostly, the name Kozlowsky is found in areas that were historically Polish lands, where the name was present for centuries. It is quite a rare surname, but can be found in various countries both in Europe and Americas.

Many people with Kozlowsky surname belonged to a powerful clan that originated from Livonia (present-day Eastern Estonia and Northern Latvia). It was associated with Celica Kopejska family, a powerful Polish nobility. For centuries, they owned vast estates and were notorious for their military power.

The name Kozlowsky is often associated with tradition and heritage. It is considered to be a timeless symbol of intelligence, ambition, and strength, and it is closely tied to the cultural and historical background of the Polish people. To many families, the name is a source of pride and an important link to their past.

Kozlowsky: Where does the name Kozlowsky come from?

The last name Kozlowsky is most common in countries of Eastern Europe, specifically in Poland, Russia, and Belarus. According to the genealogical regional accumulation index, there are about 28,500 people who carry the last name Kozlowsky in Poland, with a further 8400 people in Russia, and 2600 in Belarus.

The most densely populated areas are in the north-west of Poland, with a particular concentration in the city of Poznan. Interestingly, the name itself is derived from the Polish term "kozlowski," meaning "of the goats," hinting at ancestral roots in goat-herding. It's also likely that Kozlowskys originally hail from the area around Poznan, as feudalism and serfdom tied populations to specific areas and surnames were gradually adopted.

Outside of Eastern Europe, there is a small pocket of Kozlowskys in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The name is becoming increasingly popular in the US and UK via intermarriage and immigration, and is expected to continue to rise.

Despite their modern global spread, the Kozlowsky name is likely to remain concentrated in Poland, Russia and Belarus for many years to come. The family's connection to the Poznan area is slowly fading, however, meaning that the ancestral roots of the Kozlowsky name may eventually become lost.

Variations of the surname Kozlowsky

The surname Kozlowsky is of Polish origin, and the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Kozlowski, Kozlewski, Kozlowicz, Koziolkowski, Kozlenski, Kozlowska, Kozłowski, Kozłowiecki, Kożlewski, Kożlowski, and Kożelewski.

Kozłowski is the most common spelling of the surname, coming from the Polish word “Kozło”, which means “ram”. Therefore, the surname translates to "ram owner" or one who took care of the ram. Similarly, the word for ram also translates into the Slavic spelling “Kożelewski”, and the diminutive "kożelek" translates to “Kozlenski”.

Kozłowiecki is the third most common spelling of the surname. It is derived from the archaic Polish word “kozlów”, which means “mountain goat”. This surname translates to "goat-owner" and was often taken on by families that kept goat herds.

Kozlowicz is a spelling derived from an old Polish diminutive “kozlak”, which means “little ram”. This surname was formerly used to denote those who raised a small number of rams.

Kozlowski, Koziolkowski and Kozlowska are spelling variants of the surname Kozłowski. The suffix “-owski” is a patronymic, and indicates that the father of the initial bearer of the surnames had the given name of Kozło.

Finally, Kożlewski, Kożlowski and Kożelewski are versions of the same surname using the Slavic form of the word. These spellings derived from the Polish word “kozioł”, which means “he-goat” and would have been taken on by those who kept herds of male goats.

Famous people with the name Kozlowsky

• Irene Kozlowsky Mihalic: Estonian woman noted for her activities involving human rights and women’s rights in Estonia during the Soviet era.
• Joanna Lipper Kozlowsky: American writer, producer, director, creative advisor, professor, and technologist.
• Prince Wladyslaw Maria Calamnius Kozlovsky: Polish nobleman, lawyer, military officer, and diplomat
• Aleksander and Louis Kozlowsky: Both were illustrious Polish historians.
• John Kozlowsky: Canadian painter and arts instructor.
• Lukasz Kozlowsky: Sculptor from Poland.
• Natalia Kozlowska-Kurtyka: Wife of the late Polish opposition activist Janusz Kurtyka.
• Jacob Daniel Kozlowsky: Polish artist, military officer, and professor during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Mieczyslaw Kozlowsky: Polish geologist and scientific researcher.
• Zygmunt Kozlowski: Polish painter and sculptor.
• Igor Kozlovsky: Soviet seaman, Hero of the Soviet Union, and veteran of the Russian Navy.
• Jan Pawel Rozynski Kozlowski: Polish politician and statesman from the early 20th century.
• Anatoly Ivanovich Kozlovsky: Brigadier General in the Soviet Red Army.
• Henryk Kozlowski– Polish actor, director, and writer.
• Jaroslaw Kozlowski– Polish film producer and director, best known for the films ''Kot i mysz'' (The Cat and the Mouse) and ''Paradise Lost''.
• Kazimierz Kozlowski– Chorus conductor and musical teacher from Poland.
• Mark Kozlowski: Indo-American Author and influencer.

Other surnames

KozlowskaKozlowski