Surname Kazlauskas - Meaning and Origin
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Kazlauskas: What does the surname Kazlauskas mean?
The last name Kazlauskas is a Lithuanian word derived from a family name and literally means ‘from Kozlov,’ the name of a small town in the northeast near the Russian border. It is a relatively common surname in Lithuania and can also be found in the United States and other parts of the world.
It is believed that the Kazlauskas family name originated during a period in which Lithuanians began to establish their independence, now called the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (15th-18th century). At this time, people would add the names of their small towns and villages to differentiate themselves from others, a practice the Lithuanians of the time called “kazlausyba." People of the Kazlauskas family likely had their beginnings as small farmers, a lifestyle that is still carried on to this day in the surrounding area.
The surname is also surprisingly common in other countries thanks to the wave of Lithuanian emigration since the 19th century. This diaspora has spread the Kazlauskas name across the globe, from the United States to England, Ireland and even Australia. Wherever this surname is found, it carries with it a reminder of the strength and endurance of the Lithuanian people and their cultural and historical ties to a small town in the northeast corner of their home country.
Order DNA origin analysisKazlauskas: Where does the name Kazlauskas come from?
The last name Kazlauskas is most commonly found in Lithuania today. It is a popular last name in the country, with around 8,500 people carrying it. According to a 2016 study, it was the 150th most common surname there.
The surrounding countries also have a few individuals with this surname, including Belarus, Poland, and Ukraine. Additionally, there are some Kazlauskas descendants living in the United States and Canada.
The name is believed to have originated in Lithuania in the 16th century. It is likely derived from the word "kazlauskas" which means "silly", indicating that the family may have been given a humorous name. Alternatively, it can be traced back to an old Lithuanian word meaning "to point or reach out".
It is possible that some immigrants from Lithuania to other countries changed the spelling of their last name, which would explain why there are variants such as Kazlauskaite, Kazlauskas, and Kazlauskaitė.
Variations of the surname Kazlauskas
Kazlauskas is a surname of Lithuanian origins, which is derived from the first name Kazlauska. Variations of this surname include Kazlauskiene, Kazlauskiene, Kazlauskas and Kazlauskas. These variants differ in the spelling of the first letter as well as the ending letter, indicating whether the surname is male or female.
The suffix -iene indicates a female inheritance of the surname, while the suffix -as indicates a male version. Hence, Kazlauskiene is a female version and Kazlausas is a male version. This is observed in other Baltic languages as well.
The surname can also be found spelled as Kaslauskas or Kaslauskas. This reflects the Lithuanian pronunciation of the name, which is also seen in other surnames, such as Zalenski vs. Zalenskas. It is also seen in speech, such as when the vowel i is changed to a short e for the pronunciation of the surname.
Kazlauskas may also be found in other countries with a strong Lithuanian presence, such as the United States and Canada. In these countries, the surname may be anglicized to Kalosky, Kaleski, or Kalsky. In addition, due to the varying spellings of the name, some versions may be found written with an accent on the o or a, creating small spelling variants such as Kazlauskas or Kazlauskas.
Overall, Kazlauskas is a unique family name with a few variations that depend on spelling, pronunciation, and gender.
Famous people with the name Kazlauskas
- Renaldas Kazlauskas: one of Lithuania's most renowned contemporary poets.
- Edgaras Kazlauskas: a Lithuanian professional basketball player.
- Dr. Jaraslavas Kazlauskas: a Lithuanian military doctor, archaeologist and historian.
- Jonas Kazlauskas: a Lithuanian basketball coach who was resigned from the Lithuania men's national team in 2017.
- Romas Kazlauskas: a Lithuanian chess Grandmaster and former leader of the Lithuanian Chess Federation.
- Jouzas Kazlauskas: a Lithuanian former basketball coach who was the coach of the Lithuanian teams in the EuroBasket 2007 and EuroBasket 2009.
- Dr. Giedrius Kazlauskas: a Lithuanian professor of educational science and history and member of the Lithuanian Sciences Academy.
- Laura Kazlauskaitė: the current Education Minister of Lithuania.
- Evelina Kazlauskaitė: a Lithuanian singer and musician.
- Aurimas Kazlauskas: a Lithuanian basketball player.