{{wiktionary|Kot|kot}} {{otheruses}} '''Kot''' is the surname of a Polish nobility (szlachta) family.<ref name=gajl/> The surname derives from the nickname with the literal meaning 'cat'.<ref>Kazimierz Rymut, Nazwiska Polaków. Słownik historyczno-etymologiczny, Wydawnictwo Naukowe DWN, Kraków 2001</ref>

The first mention of the Polish name was in the 13th century. {{ill|Adam Boniecki|pl|Adam Boniecki (heraldyk)}} describes the surname in his ''Herbarz polski'' as belonging to Piława coat of arms. The Kot family uses the Doliwa, Pilawa, Rola, or Kot Morski coat of arms.<ref name=gajl>Tadeusz Gajl, ''Herbarz Polski od średniowiecza do XX wieku'', Gdańsk 2007, p. 457.</ref>

In may also be derived from the nickname "Kot" in some other Slavic languages, e.g., Czech and Russian <!--not Ukrainian, where the word is 'Kit'-->.<ref>[https://www.namenforschung.net/dfd/woerterbuch/liste/?tx_dfd_names%5bname%5d=46491&tx_dfd_names%5baction%5d=show&tx_dfd_names%5bcontroller%5d=Names Kot], Digitales Familiennammenworterbuch Deutschlands (DFD)</ref>

Notable people with the surname include: *Andrzej Kot (1946–2015), Polish designer *Antoni Kot (born 1945), Polish footballer *Aleksandra Kot (born 2000), Polish politician serving as a member of the Sejm *Ales Kot, Czech-American comic book writer *Antoni Kot, Polish footballer *Eric Kot (born 1966), Hong Kong singer and actor *Greg Kot (born 1957), American music journalist and author *Igor Kot (born 1980), Russian footballer *Jakub Kot (born 1990), Polish ski jumper *Karol Kot (1946–1968), Polish serial killer *Maciej Kot (born 1991), Polish ski jumper *Myroslava Kot (1933–2014), Ukrainian embroider *Natalia Kot (born 1938), Polish artistic gymnast *Serhat Kot (born 1997), Turkish footballer *Serhiy Kot (1958–2022), Ukrainian historian *Stanisław Kot (1885–1975), Polish scientist and politician, member of the Polish Government in Exile *Tomasz Kot (born 1977), Polish actor *Wincenty Kot (c. 1395&nbsp;– 1448) Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland, vice-cancellarius regni Poloniae.

==See also== * {{intitle|Kot}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{surname}} Category:Surnames Category:Polish noble families Category:Polish-language surnames