Surname Coleman - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling the Unfamiliar Roots: iGENEA DNA Journey of the Coleman Lineage
DNA testing with iGENEA unravels an unexpectedly diverse ancestry in the Coleman family. While Irish roots are expected, findings reveal exciting Viking ancestry and unexpected ties to an Indigenous group in Canada.
H. Coleman
read moreColeman: What does the surname Coleman mean?
Coleman is a surname of both English and Gaelic origin. In English, it originates from the occupation of a "coleman" or "charcoal burner". Here, "cole" is an old English word for coal and when combined with 'man', forms the occupational name for someone who dealt in coal or charcoal.
On the other hand, Coleman is also derived from the Gaelic name "O'Colmain" or "Mac Colmain", which means "descendant of Colman". The name Colman comes from two Gaelic words, "colm" and "an", meaning dove and the diminutive suffix respectively. Therefore, the name Colman can be interpreted as "little dove". This name was quite popular among early Christians in Ireland, as the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in Christianity.
Therefore, depending on one's genealogical background, the surname Coleman can denote an ancestry of coal merchants in England or descendants of a person named Colman in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisColeman: Where does the name Coleman come from?
The surname Coleman is of Anglo-Irish origin and is derived from the Old Irish personal name Colmán. Colmán is a diminutive form of Colm, meaning ‘dove’. Variations of the surname include Colman, Coulman, Coalman, and Colmen. The surname was often given as a form of identification to those who worked as a burner of charcoal or a gatherer of coal.
The name first made its appearance in early medieval England, and soon spread to Ireland with the Norman invasion in the 12th century. There were several notable Irish families bearing the surname Coleman, most predominantly found in County Sligo, and in Derry.
Today, the surname Coleman is prevalent in the United States, making it the 105th most common surname. The United Kingdom and Australia also have a considerable Coleman population. In Ireland, despite its origins and history, the name is less common, ranking as the 74th most common name. The modern global spread of the Coleman name is largely attributed to the Irish Diaspora, the emigration of Irish people to other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Coleman
The surname Coleman is of English and Irish origin, derived from the personal name Colman. The English version was given to a charcoal burner or coal merchant, while the Irish version comes from the personal name Colmán which means 'dove'. This surname has several spelling variants and related surnames.
Variations of the English Coleman include Colman, Coalman, Colemen, Colmen, and Colleman. It's also possible to find these names hyphenated, such as Cole-Man, or merged with others, like Coleson (son of Cole).
In Ireland, Coleman is often considered a branch of the O'Clery surname, due to historical associations between these families. Irish variants of the name can include Colman, O'Colmain, MacColmain and Kilcoleman (meaning 'church of Colmán').
Other related surnames may include names based on the nickname 'Cole', such as Coles, Colson and Coley. There's also a German version of the surname, Kohlman or Kuhlmann, which has similar occupational origins.
Please note that the variations of this surname can be based on many factors, which may include geographical distribution, culture, dialect, or personal preference. Some families may have changed their names over generations, leading to further variations.
Famous people with the name Coleman
- Gary Coleman: an American actor best known for his role in "Diff'rent Strokes".
- Bessie Coleman: the first African American woman to hold a pilot license.
- Zendaya Coleman: an American actress and singer famous for her roles in the Disney series "Shake It Up", and Marvel's "Spiderman" series.
- Ronald Coleman: Academy award winning British actor known for "A Double Life".
- Olivia Cole: Emmy award winning actress remembered for her role in "Roots".
- Chris Coleman: former professional footballer and former manager of the Wales national team.
- Cy Coleman: a well-known American composer, songwriter, and jazz pianist.
- Dabney Coleman: an American actor who has acted in prominent films like "Nine to Five".
- Carla Coleman: a famous fashion designer.
- Monique Coleman: an American actress known for her role in "High School Musical".
- Ornette Coleman: an American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer.
- Jerry Coleman: a professional baseball second baseman and a broadcaster for the San Diego Padres.
- Charlotte Coleman: British actress known for role in "Four Weddings and a Funeral".