Surname Colinet - Meaning and Origin

Colinet: What does the surname Colinet mean?

The surname Colinet is of french origin and is thought to have originated in Toulouse. The root of the surname can be traced back to the Latin word 'columba', meaning dove, as well as the name Nicolas, and its diminutive form Nicollet. Traditionally, it was bestowed upon those noted for their gentleness and piety.

The earliest known record of the surname is listed in the Montpellier rolls of the nobility in 1357, where a certain Ponce Colinet is entered.

It is thought by some to be a descendant of the St. Colomb family from western Brittany. This is based on the alternative spelling of Colombet, which is prevalent in the region.

The surname has since spread around the world. There are numerous variants of the name including Colinett, Colinette, Colombet, Collinet and Collemet.

Despite being around for centuries, the meaning behind 'Colinet' remains unclear. Some believe it to be a combination of two medieval French names, Colin and Niclet. While others believe it to be a form of the German, Danish, and sometimes Dutch name Kolinda, which has the same root of 'columba'.

At present, there are roughly 1000 people bearing the surname 'Colinet' in France, with smaller numbers in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. It is a unique and somewhat mysterious surname, still reflecting its humble beginnings in the south of France.

Colinet: Where does the name Colinet come from?

The last name Colinet is most common today in Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the United States. It is of French origin, derived from the Latin personal name Colinus or Collinus, meaning "dove-like."

In Belgium, the surname is widespread in the Flanders/Wallonia region. Data from the Belgian National Register suggests that a total of 850 people carry the Colinet surname in the country. Similarly, in Switzerland, Colinet is considered a medium-sized name, found in most parts of the cantons.

In France, this surname is most commonly found in its northern regions, including Haute-Normandie and Picardie. According to the Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques (INSEE), around 2,100 individuals possess the surname throughout the country.

Stateside, Colinet is distributed widely across the United States. Based on census records, the highest concentration of this last name is in Wisconsin. Other heavily populated states include Florida, New York, Texas, California, and Pennsylvania.

In sum, the last name Colinet is most commonly found today in Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Colinet

Colinet is a surname of French origin, tracing back to the Old French given name Collin. Variants of the surname include Colinette, Collinet, Collins, Collinson, Collinot, Colinaud, Colineau, Colinault, Coleneau, Colleneau, Collenot, Collinard, Collinot, Colleynot, Colineot, Colleynot, and Collalto. It derives from "collis" meaning “hill” and “colonus” meaning “farmer”.

The most common spellings of the name are Colinet, Collinet, and Collins. In some cases, the surname has been altered due to the influence of different languages, like the Spanish and Portuguese variant Collinet or Collinett.

The related surnames Collins and Collinson are derived from the same origin, though they are slightly altered versions of the name. Collins is derived from Collin, which was a diminutive form of Colin, and Collinson is a patronymic form of Collin.

The spelling Colinet has also been used as a given name in France since the Middle Ages. In recent times, the most notable bearer of the surname would be Thorvald Colinet (1906-1984), a French motor racing driver who competed mainly in the French Grand Prix.

Famous people with the name Colinet

• Marie-Josée Colinet: professional figure skater from Canada.
• Jamy Bechler: American high school basketball coach and author.
• Louis Colinet: former soccer player from Belgium.
• Matthieu Colinet: former professional soccer player from France.
• Frédéric Colinet: former professional soccer player from France.
• Pierre Colinet: French visual artist.
• Miguel Colinet: professional soccer player from Spain.
• Thomas Colinet: former professional soccer player from France.
• Fabien Colinet: professional soccer player from France.
• François-Xavier Colinet: former professional soccer player from Belgium.
• Robert Colinet: former professional soccer player from France.
• Florian Colinet: former professional soccer player from France.
• Paul Colinet: former professional soccer player from France.
• Dominique Colinet: architect, editor and publisher, located in Brussels, Belgium.
• Menno Colinet: multi-disciplinary visual artist from The Netherlands.
• Claude Colinet: former professional soccer player from France.

Other surnames

ColinColingwood