Coles Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Coles last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Coles last name
Meaning of the Coles last name: son of Col / charcoal burner. Coles is an English surname, usually "son of Cole", from Old English Cola, "dark, swarthy", or a short form of Nicholas. Devon and the West Country show early concentrations. The last name also appears as Cole without the final -s in many of the same parishes.
Arms associated with the Coles name
Coats of arms associated with the Coles last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Coles family history
This is only a glimpse of the Coles story. The full Coles history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Coles coat of arms. Get the full Coles report.
Coles name FAQ
What does the Coles name mean?
Son of Col / charcoal burner. Common variants include Cole, Coleson.
Where does the Coles surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Coles coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Coles coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).