Surname Kosolek - Meaning and Origin
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Kosolek: What does the surname Kosolek mean?
The last name Kosolek is of Polish origin, and its literal meaning is “march of two valleys” – a reference to its origin in two related families, called Kosow and Olek, in the area of Krakow, Poland. The name was likely adopted by people who moved to another place.
In the geographical area where the surname originated, there are numerous villages that carry the name Kosolek, such as Kosolek Stara Wies, Kosolek Młyna and Kosolek Bukowiec. This suggests the presence of a larger family that had prominent status in the area that might have borne the name Kosolek in the past.
The first recorded instance of the surname Kosolek was found in the 16th century and is connected to Krakow. Over time, the spelling of the surname changed to Kossolik or Kosolak, vocabulary which is still used in modern Polish.
Kosolek is a rare surname, and the majority of its carriers are of Polish heritage. Its literal meaning reflects an intriguing aspect of the surname’s origin story, and it has likely been passed down through generations of the same or related families in the Krakow area.
Order DNA origin analysisKosolek: Where does the name Kosolek come from?
The last name Kosolek is not especially common today, however there are instances of it found all over the world. The name primarily appears either in its original form from Central/Eastern Europe, or in the slightly modified spelling of "Kosolka". The most prominent areas in which the surname is found today are the United States, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Canada.
In the United States, the Kosolek surname first began appearing in areas like Texas and New York in the late 19th century, likely due to large-scale immigration from Eastern and Central Europe in the 1800s. This trend of the surname appearing in the US has slowly been increasing, with more and more people bearing the name over the past two centuries.
In Slovakia and the Czech Republic, however, the name is much more prominent. Dating back to the mid-1500s, the surname was found scattered across the regions of Moldavská, Nové Město, Jihlava, and Brno.
In Poland, Kosolek has been found in records since the mid-1700s. During this time, the name was mainly found in areas like Sandomierz, Tarnobrzeg, Radom, and Lodz, likely due to migration of Polish peoples from the abovementioned regions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Finally, more recently, Kosolek has been seen in larger numbers in Canada, having first began appearing in the early 1900s. The majority of these people are located in provinces like British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
Overall, the last name Kosolek is not particularly common today, but can be found located around the world in some numbers, mainly concentrated in the United States, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Kosolek
The surname Kosolek is believed to have multiple spellings and variants from all around the world. In the United States, it is widely known as Kosolek, while in other parts of the world it can be spelled as Kosslek, Koszlek, Kosolik, and Koszelek. The Czech equivalent of the name is Koselek, while in some Polish speaking regions the surname is referred to as Koschel.
In the past, the surname was also recorded in documents with phonetic spellings, under the various versions of ‘Kosolk’ or ‘Kossol’. In German speaking areas, including Austria, Poland, and Prussia, the name can be found as Kosolyk, Kosselik, Kosolyk, and Koselik. Historically, the surname was also recorded with a few alternate spellings, including Kossolk, Kosseletz, and Kosolook.
Similar sounding surnames to Kosolek, include Kusollek, Kuszalek, and Kusselik. The Polish pronunciation of the surname is KOH-sow-lek. Another variant of the name, Kosolik, is particularly popular in Russia, with the variant Kosałik being the equivalent in Belarus. The Anglicized version of Kosolek is Koselek.
The origins of the surname Kosolek are obscure. However, it is thought to have its roots in the Czech and Slovak languages, and may be derived from the word ‘kossola’, which refers to a small beam or paddle. Historically, it may have been used to describe a craftsperson, such as a woodworker, carpenter, or boat maker.
Famous people with the name Kosolek
- Aaron Kosolek: former professional basketball player and current coach.
- Joe Kosolek: former professional football player.
- Sandy Kosolek: American author and motivational speaker.
- 808ernie Kosolek: composer and music producer.
- Rocky Kosolek: professional skier and coach.
- Kathleen Kosolek: historian, writer and former model.
- David Kosolek: aerospace engineer and inventor.
- Tony Kosolek: actor and producer.
- Greg Kosolek: film director, screenwriter and former competitive cyclist.
- Sam Kosolek: former NBAAll-Star basketball player.
- Taylor Kosolek: songwriter and singer.
- John Kosolek: musician and music producer.
- Nancy Kosolek: former Olympic sprint runner.
- Tammy Kosolek: author and prominent public figure.
- Alan Kosolek: former professional tennis player.
- Shannon Kosolek: former collegiate basketball player and current basketball coach in the NBA.
- Janice Kosolek: notable football coach and athletics director.
- Robert Kosolek: Vietnamese Cuisine and Culinary Arts instructor.
- Luke Kosolek: professional golfer and golf instructor.
- Lincoln Kosolek: visual artist, painter and sculptor.