Surname Colas - Meaning and Origin

LESSONS IN LINEAGE: Discovering the Colas Family History Through iGENEA's DNA Analysis

Embarking on a journey of discovery through iGENEA, I delved into the origins and history of my family name, Colas. The DNA analysis revealed a rich ancestral history rooted in ancient Europe, shedding light on the prevalence, significance, and migration of the Colas lineage. The journey invoked a deeper understanding of my roots, health predispositions, and self-identity.

Y. Colas

Colas: What does the surname Colas mean?

The last name Colas is of French origin and is derived from the personal name Nicolas, which was derived from the Greek name Nikolaos meaning "victory of the people". This name was popular among early Christian saints who were often called upon in times of trouble or strife.

The French language version of the name, Colas, is a patronymic, meaning "son of Nicolas". Over time, this surname has evolved into a number of other forms, such as Colass, Colasz, Colazzo, Colasci, and Colascio.

Colas is now primarily found in France, though it can also be found in parts of Italy and other parts of Europe. It is also found in countries such as Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

People with the last name Colas can trace their roots back to the 10th century and have been found to be living in some areas of France since the 17th century. Famous people with the Colas surname include the French Catholic theologian and philosopher Abbé François Colas, the French painter Nicolas-Antoine Taunay-Colas, and the Mexican actor and singer Nelson Colás.

Overall, Colas is a proud French name that people of French and other European heritage can trace back to the 10th century.

Colas: Where does the name Colas come from?

The last name Colas is most commonly found in France today. The name originated as a nickname for someone with a 'cockerel-like' personality and was later used to describe someone with red curly hair. The use of Colas as a last name has expanded over time, and now it is found across the French-speaking world, with an estimated 250,000 individuals bearing the name.

In France, the most popular regions where Colas is found are the Central, Southwestern, and Northern parts of the country. Of the 250,000 people who bear the name, roughly 80,000 are located in the Central region, 73,000 in the Southwestern region, and 97,000 in the Northern region.

The French language has also exported the name to other countries through emigration and colonization. Today, surnames derived from Colas can be found in places like Canada, Algeria, and other French-speaking countries around the world.

Most Colas family members are connected by common ancestral traits and they tend to share the same values and traditions. Tying the family members together across French-speaking countries, the name translates to 'cock' in various places. This translation also helps further establish and address the origin of the surname.

Overall, the surname Colas is still quite common in modern day France, but its use is extensive across the rest of the French-speaking world as a result of emigration and colonization.

Variations of the surname Colas

The surname Colas is of French descent, and can have numerous different spellings and variants. Variants include Coulas, Colass, Callas, Kolas, and Koulas. It may also be spelled without the ‘s’ at the end (Cola, Coula etc). It is linked to several other surnames, including Surdiel, Caullas, Saulas, Calasse, and Collas, as well as French common nouns such as Coelho and Coello.

In some instances, the Colas surname might be associated with the Latinized version of its origin: Collace. This interesting variant is most recognized in German, Spanish, and Portuguese regions. The original Latin spelling of the name is Colaceus, likely derived from the Latin cola, which refers to a helmet or armor. This would indicate the Colas family’s association with ancient military history.

The surname evolution of Colas has plenty of spellings and history throughout the world. Other derivatives of the name include Callas, Colace, Collas, Coles, Colesios, Collen, Cully, and Colaceus, to name a few. Some popular international variants of Colas are Colasetti (Italian), Colashvili (Georgian), Colasinska (Polish), and Kolasin (Croatian).

Although the origin of the name does not necessarily indicate precise geographical origin, many family lines believed to originate from the Colas surname can be traced back to France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and in some cases, central Europe.

Famous people with the name Colas

• Bruno Colas, French athlete and former professional basketball player
• Olivier Colas, French actor
• Samuel Colas, French model and entrepreneur
• Maurice Colas, French painter
• Rémi Colas, French novelist
• Jean- Luc Colas, French actor
• Alain Colas, French race car driver
• Danielle Colas, French sculptor and ceramist
• Jean-Pierre Colas, French author
• Pascal Colas, French sculptor
• Maxime Colas, French football player
• Louis Colas, French architect
• Serge Colas, French politician
• Benoît Colas, French journalist
• Evy Colas, French gymnast
• Florent Colas, French skater

Other surnames

ColakColakogluColakovicColanderColat