Surname Kolar - Meaning and Origin
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Kolar: What does the surname Kolar mean?
The last name Kolar originates from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is derived from the Czech and Slovak word “kůl”, which means wheel, and thus refers to someone who either worked with or made wheels. The name Kolar may also come from a place name for someone who lived near a large wheel, such as a water wheel or a flour mill. Additionally, the name could refer to someone who was a wheelwright.
Throughout history, the Kolars have typically been craftsmen and tradespeople, such as farmers and blacksmiths. They are also known for being great storytellers, which could explain why many Kolars are entertainers and musicians.
Kolar is also the name of a few towns throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but it is thought that the last name is not immediately derived from these places. It is likely that these places were named after people who had the name Kolar.
In some cases, the last name Kolar may be an altered form of other surnames, such as "Kulik", "Kulhánek", or "Kolečka". Depending on the dialect, these names may have sounded, and therefore been written, as Kolar.
The Kolar family is quite diverse and is comprised of people from many different backgrounds. Though the origin of the Kolar last name is uncertain, its heritage of craftsmanship and storytelling has certainly been passed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKolar: Where does the name Kolar come from?
The last name Kolar is most commonly found primarily in eastern Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. It is also found in smaller concentrations in the United States, Croatia, Germany, Serbia, Austria, Hungary, and Belarus.
In the Czech Republic, the Kolar surname is fairly common and is derived from the Slavic word for “coal” or “charcoal” (koláč), with the typical suffix "-ar" forming the modern spelling of the last name.
In Poland and Slovakia, the Kolars are believed to have originated from a noble peasant family, as the name was found in areas such as Bytce and Racibórz as far back as the 16th century. In Poland, the Kolar surname has been found in various locations near Cracow, such as Limanowa, Skawina, and Zalipie, and elsewhere in Western Poland near Poznam and Wroclaw.
In the United States, Kolar appeared on Ellis Island between 1892 and 1924 in significant numbers, brought mainly by immigrants from what is now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Germany. To this day, the highest concentration of Kolars still living in the United States can be found in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York.
Kolars can also be found across Canada, with a particularly high concentration in Saskatchewan and Alberta. To a lesser extent, Kolars can also be found in Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, and other Latin American countries that experienced large waves of European immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Variations of the surname Kolar
The surname Kolar (alternatively spelt Kohler) is of Slavic-language origin, deriving its etymology from the Old Polish word "kolar" which means “saddle maker” or “wheelwright”. The surname is known to have originated in the regions of what is now modern-day Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Variants of the name Kolar include Kolář, Koleř, Kolarz, Koler, Koláč, Kolařík, Kolor, Kollár, Kovář, Kolachu, Kolasa and Kolasin.
In addition to these variants, some spellings of the surname vary slightly. These include Koller, KOHLER, Κόλαρ, Kohlar, Köhler, Kōler, Kohler-Kolar, Kolarov, Kolárová, Kölür and Kohlrar.
Another alternate spelling is Kŏlār. This variant name is sometimes pronounced differently with a short ‘o’ sound.
Surnames which are derived from the same origin as Kolar include Kolesar, Kolarik, Kolinsky, Kolinski and Kolman.
In the US, some of the most common variants of the surname found are Kolar, Kohler, Koller, Kole and Kollar.
In conclusion, the many variations of spellings and surnames of this one origin attest to the surname’s long and varied history.
Famous people with the name Kolar
- Vaclav Kolar: Czech conductor and composer
- Miroslav Kolar: Czechoslovakian footballer and manager
- Milan Kolar: Czechoslovakian football player
- Bohdan Kolar: Czechoslovakian footballer
- Pavle Kolar: Yugoslav professional football player
- Jiri Kolar: Czechoslovakian footballer
- Filip Kolar: Czech footballer
- Karel Kolar: Czechoslovakian biathlete
- Jiří Kolar: Czech abstract artist
- Marek Kolar: Czech ice hockey player
- Jaroslav Kolar: Czechoslovakian football player and coach
- Marek Kolar: Czech table tennis player
- Jan Kolar: Czech football player
- Karel Kolar: Czechoslovakian composer
- Dimitri Kolar: German musician
- Marko Kolar: Finnish stage actor
- Jirí Kolar: Czech film director
- Jiří Kolar: Czech diplomat
- Marie Kolar: Czech rhythmic gymnast
- Filip Kolar: Slovak race car driver