Surname Kolak - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kolak: What does the surname Kolak mean?
The surname Kolak is of Polish origin, derived from the Polish word 'Kolak', which means a type of mock or pretender. It might also be derived from 'kolarz', a word referring to a wheelwright, someone who builds or repairs wooden wheels. This could imply that individuals with the surname Kolak might have ancestral ties to individuals who worked in this profession. Like many European surnames, this could have been geographical references or occupational names. However, meanings of surnames can vary significantly over time and across regions, and may have different interpretations depending on historical and cultural contexts. Hence, the specific meaning of the surname Kolak could vary.
Order DNA origin analysisKolak: Where does the name Kolak come from?
The surname Kolak is of Polish origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name "Kol", which was short for several common Slavic names like "Kolumba", "Koloman", all primarily of Hungarian or Slavo-Serbian roots. The "-ak" is a diminutive suffix, typically added to personal names to create surnames in the Polish language. In the old Slavic language, "Kol" also means "wheel," so the surname could possibly also be an occupational name referring to a wheel maker.
Today, this surname is prevalent in areas where people of Polish heritage live, most notably in Poland itself. However, due to migration over time, the surname can also be found in other regions around the world where Polish communities exist, such as the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. It's important to note that the surname frequency can vary, and it might not be as common in some areas.
Variations of the surname Kolak
The surname Kolak has multiple variants and possible originations, making it common in several regions with different spellings. Variants can include Kolat, Kolack, Kollak, and Kolaak. There can also be a possibility for it being a shortened or anglicized form of longer surnames. For example, it could be derived from Kolakovski, Kolakowski, or Kolaczki, common in areas of Poland and Russia.
Kolak could also originate from the Slavic name "Kolak" which is compounded from elements ‘kol’ meaning ‘spike’, ‘spit’, and ‘ak’ as a diminutive suffix, or from the personal name Nikola or Mikolaj.
Considering the migration routes and historical linguistic changes, surnames such as Kollack, Kollek, Kolek, Kolik, or Kolacki possibly share the same roots. In Germany, the surname Kolak might surface as Kohlhaas, Kohlhaus or Kohl.
Each variation can depend on regional pronunciation, language adaptions, or clerical errors during immigration documentation. While Kolak is the standarized spelling in English-speaking countries, in countries using non-Latin alphabets, the transcriptions can vary significantly.
Famous people with the name Kolak
- Steve Kolak: American Television Writer and Producer
- Peggy Kolak: American Registered Nurse
- Steve Kolakovic: Serbian Weightlifter
- Mirko Kolak: Croatian Footballer
- Vasil Kolak: Macedonian Retired Footballer
- David Kolak: American Senior Pastor
- Hubert Kolak: Polish Professional Basketball Player
- Jesse Kolak: American Episcopal Priest
- Greg Kolak: American High School Football Coach
- Germaine Kolak: American Professional Wrestler
- Zoran Kolak: Serbian Retired International Handball Player
- Vlad Kolak: Romanian Footballer
- Andrea Kolak: Croatian Retired Olympic Gymnast
- Tadej Kolak: Slovenian Olympic Athletes
- William Kolak: American Former Professional Soccer Player
- Zlatko Kolak: Croatian Olympian Wrestling Champion
- Paul Kolak: American Retired Professional Baseball Player
- Toni Kolak: Croatian Intelligence Officer
- Olga Kolak: Russian Olympic Speed Skater
- Mike Kolak: American Professional Baseball Player