Surname Koleman - Meaning and Origin
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Koleman: What does the surname Koleman mean?
The surname Koleman is of Anglo-Saxon origin from England and is derived from an occupation. It is composed of the elements "kol", which is a variation of "cole" meaning "charcoal", and "mann", meaning "man". Hence, the surname Koleman most likely started off as a nickname for someone who either made, sold, or used coal in any form. It can also refer to a man who worked in a coal mine or was involved in the distribution of coal. Like many other surnames that originated from occupations, Koleman would have been first used to identify individuals based on their profession. Over time, it was passed down through generations as a family name. This surname has many variations in spelling, including Coleman, Colman, Coalman, and others, depending on the regions and countries.
Order DNA origin analysisKoleman: Where does the name Koleman come from?
The surname Koleman is a variant of the surname Coleman, which has multiple origins. It traced back to Ireland, England, and Germany. In Ireland, Koleman is derived from the Gaelic O'Colmain or Mac Colmain clan names, meaning "descendant of Colman". Colman is a personal name meaning "dove". In England, it developed from an occupational name for a burner of charcoal or a gatherer of coal. In Germany, it originated from a personal name, Kuhlmann, which became Anglicized as Koleman.
Today, the Koleman surname and its variants are widely spread around the world due to diaspora, mainly in English-speaking countries like the United States, England, and Australia. According to statistics, it's most common in the United States. However, the exact concentration of the Koleman surname is difficult to determine due to its variations and wide distribution across multiple countries. Bear in mind that this name may also be common in other parts of the world as surname distribution changes over time due to various factors such as migration and intermarriage.
Variations of the surname Koleman
The surname Koleman originates from the Irish/Gaelic name "O'Colmain" or the English "Colman". Therefore, it comes with several variations and spellings which have evolved over time and differ according to region.
Variants and alternate spellings of Koleman include Coleman, Colman, Colmen, Kolemen, Koelman, Coalman, and Colemann. It may also be spelled as Kolman, Kolmann, Kollman, or Kohlman, particularly in German-speaking regions.
Less common variants might include Coalmen, Colemen, Koalman, and Koalmann. Some Irish versions of the name might be O'Colmain, O'Colman, or even MacColmain or MacColman.
The surnames Collman, Colleman, or Collemann could also be included, particularly in regions where "double L" pronunciations were common.
These variations exist due to shifts in language, pronunciation, and spelling throughout history and across different regions. For instance, the "K" in Koleman might be replaced by a "C" in some anglophone regions, while the "o" might be replaced by "ö" (e.g., Köhlmann) in German-speaking areas.
It's also important to remember that some surnames might have been altered upon immigration to different countries to sound more local or to ease integration.
Famous people with the name Koleman
- John Koleman: former American college basketball player
- Mark Koleman: professional ice hockey player
- David Koleman: former Chief Financial Officer for the US chain Borders Group
- Annalise Koleman: Australian model and TV host
- Petar Koleman: former player for Serbian professional basketball club Partizan Belgrade
- Bob Koleman: American football player and coach
- John Koleman, Jr.: American college basketball player
- Nick Koleman: American musician, songwriter and singer
- Sarah Koleman: designer and artist
- Jim Koleman: American football coach