Surname Kools - Meaning and Origin
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Kools: What does the surname Kools mean?
The surname Kools is believed to originate from the Dutch family name Koel. Koel comes from the Old Dutch adjective 'coel' meaning "cool or chilled" and was likely an occupational name for a maker of ice or a seller of brewed beverages, these being a cool refreshment due to the lack of refrigeration in the day.
Since the 13th century, the spelling of the name had been consistently changing over time. For example, alternative spellings included Coels, Kool, Cools, and Kools which are mainly found in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Flanders.
In the Netherlands, the Kools surname became popular when Frans Willem Kool, a successful reformation minister, became a part of the Dutch Reformed Church in 1662. During the late 17th century, several Kools family members immigrated to America where the surname became Anglicized to the current spelling, Kools.
The true popularity of the Kools Family today is attributed to two successful generations of the Kools family residing in the United States. Henry B. Kool, lawyer, legislator, inventor, and owner of the Kool Collar Company in 1927 and Henry C. Kool, medical doctor and philanthropist are two of the most notable members of the Kools family in America.
The meaning of the surname Kools to many is succinctly explained by the historian, Gerald P. Kools, who said:
"Cool, chilled, and refreshing is the literal translation of the surname Kools. An old family of novelists or entrepreneurs who wished to refresh and invigorate their day-to-day lives, considered to be the mission of the Kools.”
Order DNA origin analysisKools: Where does the name Kools come from?
The last name Kools can be found throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and various countries in the Caribbean and North America. In the Netherlands, the name is especially common in the provinces of Flevoland, Overijssel, Gelderland, Utrecht, Limburg, and Noord-Brabant. Many Kools families immigrated to other countries in the 19th century, such as the Netherlands' former colonies in the Caribbean.
In the United States, the origin of the Kools last name can be traced back to Dutch immigrants in the mid-1700s. The oldest records of Kools families in the US trace them back to early Dutch settlements in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
Today, there are still members of the Kools family living in the United States. It is most common in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Utah.
The Kools last name can also be found in other countries around the world, such as Canada, Australia, and many European countries including Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
Overall, the last name Kools is quite common in the Netherlands, the United States, and other countries around the world. It is still a very recognizable name with a long-time presence in many countries.
Variations of the surname Kools
The surname Kools has several variants and spellings, as well as several surnames of the same origin. The simplest variant is the Dutch spelling, "Kools". This surname is a patronymic name deriving from the personal name "Kool", itself derived from the Dutch word for "coal". It may also be spelled with a "K" or a "C", such as "Kool", "Kohl" or "Cohl".
Other variants of Kools include the Dutch patronymic surnames "Koolen" and "Kollens". These names derive from "Kool" and the suffix "-en" and "-ens". These variants are most common in Flanders, a region in the northern part of Belgium.
Other related surnames are derived from the Germanic root "kol" (coal) and the suffix "-mann", giving us the surname "Kolman". This name is usually found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The Dutch surnames "Koot" and "Kuits" are also derived from the Dutch "Kool". The "Koot" variation is derived from the Dutch Kooi (coop). The "Kuits" variation is derived from the Dutch Kuits (coal).
Finally, the Dutch surname "Kols" is likely derived from the Dutch Koel (cool). This surname is mostly found in the Netherlands.
In conclusion, the Kools surname has several variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. These include Kool, Koolen, Kollens, Kolman, Koot, Kuits, and Kols. Many of these surnames are found in specific regions of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Kools
- Ciaron Kools: Netherlands-born actor, director and screenwriter
- Kern Kools: Danish professional golfer
- Wilfred Kools: Dutch professional football striker in the 1960s
- Vic Kools: North Carolinian jazz saxophonist, vocalist and composer
- Willem Kools: 1930s Dutch violinist
- Roy Kools: Dutch football goalkeeper
- Maartje Kools: Dutch professional road cycler
- Elize Kools: (nee Muntinga) Dutch screenwriter, film editor and actress
- Sue Kools: Dutch triathlete
- Kimberly Kools: Dutch professional road cyclist