Kozłowska

Kozłowska is the feminine form of the Polish surname Kozłowski, making it the second most common surname in Poland (76,657 bearers in 2009). The root name, Kozłowski, originates as a toponymic surname for someone from a place named Kozłów, Kozłowo, or similar, all derived from Polish kozioł meaning "male goat." These place names often referred to locations where goats were kept or where a goat-shaped landmark existed.

In Polish naming tradition, surnames ending in -owski typically indicate geographical origin, and the feminine form ending in -a is used for women. Thus, Kozłowska is the standard surname for a female member of the Kozłowski family. In many contexts, women retain their surname after marriage or carry it as a familial designation. The masculine forms include Kozłow and Kozłowski.

Notable bearers of the surname Kozłowska include Agnieszka Kozłowska-Rajewicz (born 1969), a Polish politician; Bogusława Kozłowska-Tomasiak (born 1952), a Polish rower; and Iwona Kozłowska, a Polish... The name has spread internationally through emigration, with variants in Lithuanian such as Kazlauskaitė, Kazlauskas, and Kazlauskienė, which share origins in the same root word for "goat."

Culturally, Kozłowska represents a common pattern in Slavic onomastics where feminine versions of surnames carry both familial and grammatical meaning. The name is predominantly found in Poland, particularly in regions like Warmia-Masuria and Podlaskie, where it ranks second in frequency.

• Meaning: Feminine form of Kozłowski, from Polish kozioł "male goat"
• Origin: Polish toponymic
• Type: Surname
• Usage: Poland