Kazlauskas

Kazlauskas is a Lithuanian surname, and it is the most common surname in Lithuania. It is the Lithuanian form of the Polish surname Kozłowski, which originally denoted a person from places like Kozłów or Kozłowo, names derived from the Polish word kozioł (meaning “male goat”).

Etymology and Origin

The surname Kazlauskas is an adaptation of the Polish toponymic surname Kozłowski. In the process of Lithuanianization, the Polish suffix -owski was often replaced by the Lithuanian patronymic suffix -auskas. The root Kazl- corresponds to the Polish Kozł-, which itself originates from the word for “goat.” The name therefore originally referred to someone who lived near a place associated with goats or a place named Kozłów.

Related Feminine Forms

Like many Lithuanian surnames, Kazlauskas has specific feminine forms: Kazlauskaitė (for unmarried women) and Kazlauskienė (for married women). These endings are standard in Lithuanian: -aitė indicates a daughter or unmarried woman, while -ienė indicates a wife.

Distribution and Popularity

According to Lithuanian census data, Kazlauskas is the most prevalent surname in the country. It is particularly common in the northern and central regions, but it can be found throughout Lithuania and among Lithuanian diaspora communities worldwide.

Notable Bearers

Several notable individuals bear the surname Kazlauskas:

• Charles Kazlauskas (b. 1982), American association football player of Lithuanian descent.
• Donatas Kazlauskas (b. 1994), Lithuanian footballer.
• Jonas Kazlauskas (b. 1954), Lithuanian professional basketball coach and player.
• Jonas Kazlauskas (1930–1970), Lithuanian linguist and expert on Baltic languages.
• Marius Kazlauskas (b. 1984), Lithuanian football player.
• Nomeda Kazlauskaitė (known as Nomeda Kazlaus), Lithuanian dramatic soprano.
• Valdas Kazlauskas (b. 1958), Lithuanian race-walker.

Other Linguistic Forms

The surname also appears in other languages: Polish cognates include Kozłowski, Kozłowska (feminine), and Kozłow (a variant). Related Lithuanian roots are kozl16o10w and kozl16owo (displayed as place-name roots).

• Meaning: goat-related toponym; Lithuanian form of Polish Kozłowski
• Origin: Lithuanian adaptation of Polish surname
• Type: Surname
• Usage regions: Lithuania