Surname Kozlowski - Meaning and Origin

Exploring Polish Heredity: Journey into My Kozlowski Roots with iGENEA DNA Test

Discovering fascinating depths of my Polish lineage, I journeyed into my familial history with an iGENEA DNA test. This exploration began with understanding the meaning and origins of my surname, Kozlowski. The results have created a richer canvas of my ancestry, connecting me to my past while informing my future.

G. Kozlowski

Kozlowski: What does the surname Kozlowski mean?

The last name Kozlowski is of Polish origin and it is derived from the word "Kozioł," which means "goat" in English. Therefore, traditionally, Kozlowski could be referred to someone who either owned goats or was a goat breeder. The suffix of the name, "owski," typically suggests a reference to a geographical location in Poland. So, a person named Kozlowski could also have been identified with a place of residence or origin associated with goats. It is also possible that it might have been used as a nickname in a more abstract or metaphorical sense, for someone sharing characteristics traditionally associated with goats such as willfulness or stubbornness. Nowadays, Kozlowski is a popular surname in Poland and among people of Polish descent around the world.

Kozlowski: Where does the name Kozlowski come from?

The last name Kozlowski is of Polish origin. It is derived from the Polish word "kozłów", which translates to "he-goat" in English. The surname is typically patronymic, meaning the name was initially given to someone whose father or ancestor might have been named Kozłow. "Ski" in Polish names suggests belonging to a place or clan, hence Kozlowski could also mean someone from places named Kozlow.

Today, Kozlowski is a common surname in Poland, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Particularly in Poland and areas densely inhabited by Poles, the surname is incredibly prevalent. Notably, in the United States, many Polish immigrants anglicized the name to Kozloski or even Kazlowski to ease pronunciation. Despite these variations, Kozlowski remains widely recognized globally due to notable bearers of the name like American actor Ted Kozlowski and Polish actress Joanna Kozlowska.

Variations of the surname Kozlowski

The surname Kozłowski is of Polish origin. It is a habitational name from places called Kozłów, Kozłowo, or Kozłówka, or a topographic name for someone who lived by a 'goat wood', from the Polish kozioł, which means 'he goat' and 'wski', a topographic suffix.

Various spellings of Kozłowski would include Kozłowicz, Kozłowska (feminine form), and Kozłowscy (plural form). Since the Polish alphabet includes specific characters not found in the English alphabet, it is also common to see Kozlowski (without the crossed L) in English-speaking countries.

Some other surnames deriving from the same root ('kozioł') could be Kozak, Kozioł, Kozuch, Kozina, and Kozar, though it should be noted that these are not exactly variants of ‘Kozłowski’ but rather separately formed surnames deriving from the same or similar roots.

In diaspora, Kozlowski variants may have been further anglicized or adapted to local languages, so you could theoretically find a wide range of modifications. However, this would depend on individual immigration records and family histories.

Famous people with the name Kozlowski

• Lech Wałęsa (former Polish President)
• Marek Kozłowski (Polish actor and comedian)
• Zbigniew Kozłowski (Polish actor)
• Wojciech Kozłowski (Polish actor)
• Jacek Kozłowski (Polish politician)
• Stanisław Kozłowski (Polish film director)
• Jan Kozłowski (Polish film director)
• Witold Kozłowski (Polish actor, director and playwright)
• Andrzej Kozłowski (Polish film director)
• Małgorzata Kozłowska (Polish philosopher and feminist activist)
• Emilia Kozłowska (Polish sculptor)
• Murki Kozłowskie (Polish musical group)
• Andrée Kozlowski (American-born French journalist and novelist)
• Grzegorz Kozłowski (Polish athlete)
• Hubert Kozłowski (Polish painter and graphic designer)
• Wojciech Kozłowski (Polish cinematographer)
• Włodzimierz Kozłowski (Polish actor)
• Paweł Kozłowski (Polish poet and writer)
• Adam Kozłowski (Polish actor and comedian)
• Zbigniew Kozłowski (Polish painter and graphic artist)

Other surnames

KozlowskaKozlowsky