Surname Kozelka - Meaning and Origin
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Kozelka: What does the surname Kozelka mean?
Kozelka is a surname of Slavic origin. It is derived from the Czech word “Kozel” meaning “Goat”. It is believed that the name dates back to times when many Slavic people kept goats as livestock. The name Kozelka can be found in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland and other regions that historically belonged to the Slavs.
The use of surnames became compulsory during the Austro-Hungarian empire in the middle of the 18th century and was then adopted elsewhere in Slavic countries. It is thought that the surname Kozelka was used to distinguish a family that shared a common ancestor who had a hobby or occupation related to goats.
The Kozelka coat of arms is a combination of the colors red, white, and blue. It depicts a silver goat with a red tongue, white ears and blue legs. This symbol reflects the family’s distant relationship to goats, and displays their courage, industriousness, loyalty, and humility.
The Kozelkas are traditionally known to be a hard-working and loyal family. They put a great effort into everything they do and do not give up in even the toughest of circumstances. In addition, the Kozelkas are associated with enormous strength and resilience, successfully overcoming any adversity on their path.
The last name Kozelka carries a strong history, and is a reminder of the legacy of the hardworking Slavic people. Each member of the Kozelka family inherits these qualities, and they will continue to affect people’s lives for many years to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKozelka: Where does the name Kozelka come from?
The last name Kozelka is most commonly found in Central/Eastern Europe, particularly modern-day Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belarus, and Ukraine as a result of the mass population movement eastward in the aftermath of World War II. It has also been documented in Germany, often as a result of its most recent immigrants from the region.
In Poland, the surname Kozelka appears to be concentrated in the southeastern parts of the country, especially in the areas of Nowy Sącz, Przemyśl, Częstochowa, and Kraków, according to geographic distribution maps created by the Geopolitical Database of Polish Surnames.
Kozelka is an infrequently used given name throughout Central/Eastern European cultures as well, often as a derivative of more typical Mikolaj, Karol and Jan forms.
In the United States the majority of Kozelka family present today trace their roots to immigration through Ellis Island, typically between 1880 and 1924, from parts of Central/Eastern Europe. Many of these Kozelkas have spread out from their original ports of entry along the east coast and have further spread out in the many directions made possible by multiple generations of relocation and mobility.
While still reflective of a relatively small population in comparison to other surnames, one can find the name Kozelka, more so in its diasporic forms, in virtually any municipality across the United States today.
Variations of the surname Kozelka
The surname Kozelka is a variant of the more commonly used spelling Kozlowski or Kozlik. It is derived from the Slavic word ‘kozioł’, which means ‘ram’ or ‘wild goat’. It is a popular surname in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland.
Variations of the surname Kozelka can include Koselka, Koslik, Kozlik, and Kozlow. Other versions of the name can be found in Ukraine, such as Koselka, Koloz, Koloz, Kolozka, Kolozina, Koleska, Koleska, Koleski, and Kolesky.
In Lithuania, the spelling of the surname may be Kozylka or Kojelka. Kojelka is also a variation of the surname that can be found in Russia.
In Belarus, the surname Kozelka can be written as Kozulka or Kozlio and is an alternative spelling of the name Kozylo.
The surname has also been found in other countries under different spellings.
In the United States, spellings of the surname Kozelka include Kozlack, Kozlick, Kozlik, Kosick, and Koslik.
In Canada, the surname Kozelka can be found as Kozlak, Kozlick, Kozlik, and Koslik.
Other countries where the surname has been found include Germany (Koslik, Koswarning, Kozlik), Austria (Kozelka, Kozlik, Kozlak), Hungary (Kozlik, Kozolyk), Serbia (Kozijak), and Croatia (Kosljak).
In conclusion, the surname Kozelka has many variations and spellings in different languages and across different countries.
Famous people with the name Kozelka
- John Kozelka: Former professional six-time NFL Pro-Bowler
- Maja Kozelka: Polish actor, director and screenplay writer
- James Kozelka: Professional 4A football player for the University of North Dakota
- John Kozelka Jr.: Former professional NFL linebacker
- Peter Kozelka: Professional figure skater and choreographer who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics
- Louise Kozelka: Professional triathlete and world champion
- Ljuba Kozelka: Czech sprint and middle-distance runner
- Joanna Kozelka: Professional tennis player
- Walt Kozelka: Professional NASCAR driver
- Bruno Kozelka: Former Olympic long-distance runner