Surname Kotlowitz - Meaning and Origin
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Kotlowitz: What does the surname Kotlowitz mean?
The last name Kotlowitz is derived from the Jewish surname “Kotlovitz.” Last names ending in -witz, such as Kotlowitz, are indicative of Ashkenazic, or northern European, Jewish heritage.
The root of the name is “Kotel,” a Hebrew word meaning “wall.” Thus, this Jewish-specific surname likely refers to either someone who lives or has lived near a wall in some sense, or to a family who makes a living building walls or fortifications.
It is believed that this surname originated as an occupational name among the artisan class of Jewish people in Europe, many of whom came to America in the early 20th century in pursuit of economic opportunity and freedom from persecution.
Given its association with a wall, often representative of division, Kotlowitz has taken on a broader, conceptual meaning as well. The name is descriptive of a person or family who is a builder or protector, someone who steadfastly stands up for their beliefs and values.
Kotlowitz is a powerful name, with a rich history that speaks both to the personal experience of its holders, as well as the greater concept of standing up for one’s beliefs and defending them fiercely.
Order DNA origin analysisKotlowitz: Where does the name Kotlowitz come from?
The surname Kotlowitz is a Jewish surname of Russian or Polish origin. It is still popular in both Russia and Poland, and can also be found in other European countries with a strong Jewish heritage. In the United States, the surname is common in the Northeast and Midwest regions, particularly in cities with large Jewish populations, such as New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In recent years, the diaspora of Jewish Americans has brought the name Kotlowitz to communities across the United States.
The name Kotlowitz is derived from the town of Kotlovan, located in the Ryazan Oblast region of Russia. The original Kotlowitz family were grain merchants who settled in and around the town of Kotlovan in the 18th century. The family members spread to various parts of Russia, and eventually emigrated to other countries.
Today, the name Kotlowitz is found throughout the world, mostly within Jewish populations, reflecting the strong ties and global diaspora that the Jewish community has maintained for centuries. Notably, many individuals with the surname Kotlowitz have achieved success in business, politics, and the arts, such as Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex Kotlowitz.
Variations of the surname Kotlowitz
The surname Kotlowitz is believed to have originated in the Polish and Russian language, first being found in records in the Middle Ages. Although the surname’s exact origin is unclear, it is believed to come from the word kotlowy, meaning “little cat” in Slavic languages. This name has many variant spellings and surnames with the same origin, including Kotlowyts, Katlowyts, Kotylowyts, Kowtlowyts, Katlowyck, and Katlowzi.
The Kotlowitz surname is not exclusive to Poland and Russia, however. Variants of this surname have been found in UK records, where they have been anglicised to Catlowitz and Katlowitz. It is also popular in Germany, where it is known as Katlwitzer and in America where it has been made more americanized to Kotlowitz or even Cutler.
In the early twentieth century, when the infamous Kotlowitz family moved to America from Eastern Europe, the spelling was sometimes changed from Kotlowitz in Ellis Island records to Cutler due to an Ellis Island official mishearing the name for the immigrant family.
The Kotlowitz name remains popular today, and variants remain throughout Europe, the UK, America and Canada. It is likely that the name has different roots in each of these countries, but all are believed to be derived from a common Slavic origin.
Famous people with the name Kotlowitz
- Alex Kotlowitz: He is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, a regular contributing correspondent for National Public Radio, and a regular contributor to The New York Times Magazine.
- Alvin Kotlowitz: He is an acclaimed American painter of figurative expressionism. He also dabbles in photography and sculpting.
- Robert Kotlowitz: He is an American writer and literary critic. He is best known for his books The Poetry of Recovery and Don’t Tell the Grown-Ups: The Subversive Power of Children’s Literature.
- Craig Kotlowitz: He is a playwright, performer, and professor at Northwestern University. He has had several plays produced, including Artie Philosophical Interior Design, which won the Seth Milliken Award.
- Max Kotlowitz: He is an internationally recognized business leader and philanthropist. He founded and led the Orange Shirt Foundation, which works to end racial and gender inequality throughout the world.
- Katharine Kotlowitz: She is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania where she works on anxiety, mood, and stress-related disorders.
- Adele Kotlowitz: She is a sculptor and installation artist whose work focuses on representations of the body through casts and found objects.
- Orin Kotlowitz: He is a playwright and theater director, best known for his efforts to make classical theater more accessible to modern audiences. He has written and directed numerous plays and is the Artistic Director of the Orin Kotlowitz Theater Company.
- Andrew Kotlowitz: He is a cinematographer and director of numerous films, shorts, and music videos, including the feature film Kid Trouble: The Final Chapter.