Surname Kalnin - Meaning and Origin
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Kalnin: What does the surname Kalnin mean?
The last name Kalnin is of Old Slavic origin, and is primarily found in countries of Eastern Europe, where it is thought to have originated. It is derived from either the Slavic word 'kol' meaning 'forest', 'wood' or 'brushwood', or a variant of the name 'Koloman' meaning 'brave, hardworking man'.
The title 'Kalnin' was first used as an aristocratic surname among the Slavic nobility in the Middle Ages, and is believed to have originated from Eastern Europe, likely Poland or Russia.
Today, the Kalnin surname is most common in Lithuania, where it is thought that the surname was brought shortly after Slavic people migrated to the region and where it is ranked as the 58th most common surname. The surname can also be found in countries such as the Ukraine, Belarus, and Latvia, as well as throughout central and eastern Europe.
In the United States, the Kalnin surname is much rarer as it was carried into the country by European immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is thought that the surname is most common in the state of Michigan, home to a large number of second and third-generation immigrants from Eastern Europe.
Overall, the Kalnin surname is an interesting reminder of centuries-old cultural connections across Eastern Europe and the world today – a link between the past and present.
Order DNA origin analysisKalnin: Where does the name Kalnin come from?
The surname Kalnin is most commonly found in Eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, and Poland. It is a toponymic surname derived from the place name Kalnin which means 'the hill'. It would have been given to a person who lived on, or near, a hill or mountain.
The origin of Kalnin as a surname dates back to the 13th century and is believed to have begun in Latvia. Since then, the surname has spread to other countries and has adopted slight variations depending on language and dialect. These variations include Kalninz, Kalnis, and Kalne.
Today, the surname Kalnin is recorded in many countries around the world, but is most commonly found in Latvia - around 11,000 people. It is also found in significant numbers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus.
Given the frequency of this surname in a variety of countries, its likely that the descendants of the original Kalnin family have spread across the world. People with this surname may be able to trace back their family history more closely by further researching the place name which their ancestors likely originated from.
Variations of the surname Kalnin
The surname Kalnin is a variant of the Slavic surname Kalenin, which has been adopted across a number of different countries and languages. Among English speakers, this name can be rendered as "Callan", "Callen", "Callin", "Kallan", "Kallen", and "Kallin". A Slovenian spelling is "Kalin" or "Kalina", while German speakers may render it as "Kalen".
In some cases, the surname Kalnin may be rendered as "Kaleyne" in English, while Russian speakers may use "Kalenyuk", "Kalynuk" or "Kalynyuk"; Ukrainian speakers may prefer "Kaleniuk"; and Poles may use "Kaleniak" or "Kalenia".
The surname Kalnin may have multiple origins. One source suggests its etymology is derived from the Lithuanian word "kalnas", meaning "mountain" or "hill". Another suggests it is a variation of the Czech, Polish and Slovak given name "Kalin", which is a variant of "Kailen". It may also be derived from the Slavic given name "Kolman", which itself is derived from the Italian "Colombano", meaning "young dove" or "young pigeon".
In some cases, the surname Kalnin is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Callan, which is derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac Callain". This Irish surname may have descended from the ancient Gaelic Clann Cholmain, which means "son of young dove".
Regardless of its origin, Kalnin is an uncommon surname and can be found across many countries.
Famous people with the name Kalnin
- Brandon Kalnin: American heavy metal singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Evan Kalnin: American professional volleyball player.
- Billy Kalnin: American Visual Effects Supervisor for feature films.
- Jason Kalnin: American writer, producer and director.
- William Kalnin: Member of the Ontario legislature.
- August Kalnin: Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
- Andrew Kalnin: Ontario leader of the New Democratic Party.
- Michael Kalnin: American stage and film actor.
- Carl Kalnin: American entrepreneur and founder of KBA Design.
- Daniel Kalnin: Canadian professional Curler and former Canadian Junior Curling champion.