Kozlová is a Czech feminine surname, derived as the female form of the masculine surname Kozel. The name belongs to a widespread family of Slavic surnames originating from the word for "goat" or "he-goat."
Etymology and Origin
The root of Kozlová lies in the Polish surname Kozioł, meaning "male goat." This occupational surname initially referred to a goatherd or someone who kept goats. In Czech and Belarusian, Kozel serves as a cognate, sharing the same "goat" meaning. Corresponding forms in other Slavic languages include Belarusian Kazloŭ, its feminine Kazlova, as well as Polish Kozieł and Kozioł.
Cultural Context
In Czech naming conventions, surname feminization is standard: masculine forms end in consonant, while feminine counterparts add -ová. Thus Kozlová is the expected female version of Kozel, parallel to word-final rules in Polish (-ówna for daughters, -owa for wives) but simpler in Czech. These types of surnames linked to animals or animal husbandry remain common in Slavonic countries, reflecting traditional rural economies. The alternative spelling Kozlová implicitly avoids diacritics; the accurate Czech notation writes an acute over the o: Kozlová.
- Meaning: female form of Goat / Goatherd
- Origin: Czech
- Type: Occupational surname (feminized)
- Usage: Czech Republic
- See also: Kozel, Kozioł, Kazlova
Sources: Forebears — kozlová