Surname Kosloff - Meaning and Origin
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Kosloff: What does the surname Kosloff mean?
The surname Kosloff is of Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin and is derived from the Hebrew word ‘kosel’, which means ‘foot’. It is thought that the name was originally given to a person who was either a shoemaker or a tailor, since those professions required a great deal of work with feet and were highly respected trades among Eastern European Jews.
The first recorded mention of the surname dates back to 1667 in the records of a Jewish community in the area that is now part of modern-day Belarus. The name is relatively common in the present day in Israel, especially in the Tel Aviv–Yafo area, where it is one of the top 100 surnames.
Kosloff is also found among the Jewish diaspora in the United States, especially with those who trace their roots to Eastern Europe. Today, it is thought to be one of the most popular surnames among people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent globally.
To indicate that a person is of Jewish descent, the surname is often preceded by the Hebrew letters ‘ben’ or ‘bar’ as in, ‘ben Kosloff’ or ‘bar Kosloff’ and is sometimes seen as part of the Hebrew surname of each person in Jewish generations; for example, the son of Zev Kosloff might be referred to as Zev ben Kosloff.
Overall, the last name Kosloff is thought to identify someone from an Ashkenazi Jewish background and links the bearer to a history and culture of pride, honor, and resilience.
Order DNA origin analysisKosloff: Where does the name Kosloff come from?
The surname Kosloff appears to be most commonly found in the areas of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In particular, the surname appears to be frequent in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Belarusian-speaking regions of Poland, and other Eastern European countries. It is also found in diaspora communities in Israel, the United States, and other countries around the world.
The surname is believed to originate from two possible sources, either from the Slavic word 'Koslo', which means 'crossing', or from a nickname for someone who liked to tell jokes. Records of bearers of this surname can be found as early as the 12th century, with a contemporary House of Kosloff boasting numerous notable members.
Today, there are a large number of people bearing the surname Kosloff. Many of them are descendants of the original aristocratic family, but there are also many other people from different backgrounds. There have been a number of well-known people bearing this surname throughout history, such as 20th-century American physician Dr. Hermann Kosloff, early 20th-century race car driver Leon Kosloff, and Russian-American composer and conductor Mark M. Kosloff.
Variations of the surname Kosloff
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kosloff include Koslov, Kosslaff, Kosslauf, Kosslof, Koslauf, Kosloff, Koslov, Kosslauf, Kossloff, Koslau, and Koslova.
Kosloff is a Russian patronymic surname derived from the given name Koslay, which itself was derived from the Old Slavic term ‘kosla’ meaning ‘dog’. Historically, those bearing the surname Kosloff were traditionally associated with the noble class and many served in Tsarist Russia’s military.
The earliest known recorded instances of the surname date back to the 1500’s. A member of the Kosloff family, General Mikhail Pavlovich Koslov, was renowned for his acts in the Russo-Japanese war and later went on to become a distinguished General in World War I, earning multiple awards for his service.
Kosloff is a common surname throughout Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. It can also be found in Jewish communities across Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Romania.
The variants Koslov, Kosslaff, Kosslauf, Kosslof, Koslauf, Kosloff, Koslov, Kosslauf, Kossloff, Koslau, and Koslova are the product of historical record keepers attempting to correctly spell the same surname and immigrants attempting to localize the pronunciation of their name in their newly adopted country.
The surname is rarely found in the Americas; however, numerous descendants of the immigrants from Eastern Europe have adopted similar surnames using the same prefix. An example of this is Kosloski, a variant of Kosloff.
In conclusion, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kosloff include Koslov, Kosslaff, Kosslauf, Kosslof, Koslauf, Kosloff, Koslov, Kosslauf, Kossloff, Koslau, and Koslova.
Famous people with the name Kosloff
- David Kosloff: Emmy Award winning composer who has written scores for a wide variety of films, television shows, and video games.
- Sasha Kosloff: Russian violinist who has performed under the baton of some of the world's most esteemed conductors.
- Steve Kosloff: American actor and voice actor best known for voicing the cartoon character “Bubble” on the popular animated television series Bobby's World.
- Alla Kosloff: Russian-born, American silent film actress of the 1920s.
- Boris Kosloff: Russian Renowned basketball player, who represented the Soviet Union in major international competitions.
- Zachery Kosloff: Canadian director, writer, producer, and editor of short and feature films.
- Thomas Kosloff: American producer and writer who worked on the television show Seinfeld.
- Jens Kosloff: German football coach who worked with the teams of FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
- Donald Kosloff:American actor and voice artist, well-known for roles in several animated productions.
- Stefan Kosloff: German businessman and philanthropist who donated to a wide variety of projects and ventures.