Surname Coolen - Meaning and Origin

Coolen: What does the surname Coolen mean?

Coolen is a surname derived from the Dutch language. It originated from a Dutch female given name ‘Cool,’ which is related to the German word ‘Kuhle’. The word means ‘coolness’ or ‘refreshing’ which could refer to a physical location or a mental state.

The name likely originates from a place name, such as Coolen in the Netherlands, or a compound name, such as Koelenkraal, which means ‘cool courtyard.’ It could also refer to someone from one of these place names or it could simply refer to someone who has a calm and composed character.

In the Netherlands, the surname is common in the northwestern and southeastern regions of the country and is still associated with the area today. The surname is not as popular in other countries, but is still found in some places, such as Belgium, Canada, and the United States.

In today’s society, the surname likely invokes connotations of someone who is intelligent, coolheaded, and composed. It may also reference someone who is particularly skilled at strategizing and planning. People with the surname Coolen may also embody qualities related to their namesake, such as having a cool and relaxed attitude towards life.

Coolen: Where does the name Coolen come from?

The last name Coolen is particularly common in countries with Dutch heritage. Within the Netherlands, Coolen is a popular surname, ranking in the top 350 of all Dutch surnames. In Belgium, the name is also prevalent, particularly in Flanders. In recent centuries, many Dutch-speaking immigrants have also entered countries such as Canada, the United States, South Africa and Australia, meaning the Coolen surname is now scattered around the globe.

In Canada, the last name is particularly common in Ontario, although there are a number of families of Dutch descent in the prairies and in BC. In the United States, the name can be found mainly concentrated around the Great Lakes region, including in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. Outside of these areas, the name is also found in areas such as South Dakota and Arizona, which were commonly populated by Dutch immigrants during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In Australia, mainly Dutch settlers can be found in the eastern states; the Coolen name is particularly abundant in Victoria and New South Wales. In South Africa, Coolen families can mainly be found in the western and northern provinces, but were also more widely spread across the country during the Dutch colonial period.

The surname is still quite common in all its various locations, particularly in Dutch heritage countries, signifying the long-standing history of its scattered families.

Variations of the surname Coolen

The surname Coolen has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origination. Some spellings and variants include: Koolen, Koolens, Koolman, Coolman, Koolman, Koolmans, Kolman, Kuehlman, Koolmans, Koolmans, Kuleman, Kolmans, Kulemans, Kooling, Koolingh, Koolings, Koolink, Kulemans, Coolings, Koolings, Kuehlings, Kuehling, Kuelman, Kuehlmans, Köln, Köhle, Koolmanns, Koolmann, Koolmans, Koolmanns, Kuehlmann and Cooln.

These surnames have been derived from the Dutch word “kol”, meaning coal, or from the German “Köhle”, meaning charcoal. Thus, occupational surnames related to coal production may have played a role in the origins of the family name. In some instances, the name may have been connected to a location near a coal mine; such as Köhle, Germany. In other cases the family name may have been derived from a nickname, describing someone with a dark complexion or a person associated with the burning of coal, such as a coal seller.

In the Netherlands, the family name is most common on the island of Groningen, where the name is also found in its various spellings. In the United States, the family name is also prevalent.

Other forms of the surname can be found in various other countries, including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Famous people with the name Coolen

• Cassandra Coolen: Canadian actress, model, and singer from Edmonton, Alberta.
• Aswin Coolen: Dutch wheelchair basketball player who represented the Netherlands at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
• Sam Coolen: Belgian singer-songwriter, musician, and actor who has released several critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums and singles.
• Elke Coolen: Canadian writer and visual artist whose graphic novels and children’s books have won numerous awards.
• Philipp Coolen: German football goalkeeper who currently plays for FC St Pauli.
• Mechiel Coolen: Dutch-American actor who is best known for his lead roles in television series such as 'Mercy Street' and 'Toast of New York'.
• Celia Coolen: British jazz singer who has performed alongside legends such as Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald.
• Heleen Coolen: Dutch sculptor who is known for her abstract and surreal pieces that feature animals and organic shapes.
• Lucienne Coolen: Dutch speed skater who has represented the Netherlands in several world championships.
• Maartje Coolen: Dutch painter whose works are often minimalistic and colorful.

Other surnames

CooleCoolensCooley