Surname Kolis - Meaning and Origin
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Kolis: What does the surname Kolis mean?
The last name Kolis originates from the northern part of India and is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘kula’, which means house or family. The name was used to distinguish members of family clans, and can be used to trace the lineage of a family. It was typical of villages in India to have a separate family unit for each of the different levels of society.
In many of these villages, family leader's were known by the title 'Koli' or 'Kolis'. Members of this family group had their own surname, usually derived from the family’s place of origin or originating ancestor, so the surname ‘Kolis’ became a way to identify people from a specific family.
Today, people of the surname Kolis are spread around the world. In India the surname is still used, mainly in Northern states, while in the United Kingdom, United States, and other countries with a significant population of Indian citizens, the name is commonplace.
The surname Kolis is one of the oldest names in the world, having been in use for centuries. Its rich heritage and history are testament to the importance of family and identity that many who bear the name take pride in.
Order DNA origin analysisKolis: Where does the name Kolis come from?
The last name Kolis is most common today in Lithuania, a European country bordered by Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and the Kaliningrad region of Russia. The 2021 population estimate for Lithuania is approximately 2.7 million people, and some records indicate that around 1.3% of Lithuanian families bear the surname Kolis.
The Kolis surname is one of the few Lithuanian surnames that also appears in other European countries, with some records indicating that it is present in Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Belarus. However, the number of individuals with this surname in other countries is likely relatively small in comparison to the population in Lithuania.
The origin of the Kolis surname is rooted in the Lithuanian language, in which it is derived from the word "kulis," which means peasant. It is likely that people with the Kolis surname often originated from agricultural villages in Lithuania and took on the occupational name, as many surnames did during the Middle Ages.
Today, the Kolis surname is found most predominantly in Lithuania, although a few variants can be found in other European countries. Its popularity in Lithuania is attributed to its roots in the country and the fact that it is one of the oldest and most culturally significant surnames in the nation.
Variations of the surname Kolis
The surname Kolis is a caste-title originating in the Indian subcontinent, most commonly found in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is derived from the Sanskrit term “Kol” which translates to “Clan”. This surname is mainly used by the “Koli” community which consists of fisher-folk, farmers and land-owners. This caste is considered one of the earliest settlers of the Indian subcontinent.
Variants of the surname Kolis include Kolis, Koli, Kole, Kules and Kulesh. Alternative spellings include Kole, Kula and Kool. Surnames originating from Kolis may include Kolar, Kolekar, Koliwad, Kolflchek, Kolisetty, Koliwer, and Kolhi.
The Koli community is well known for its spirited folk songs and dances. Further, the Koli people have a long tradition of weaving coarse cotton cloths. They are found in large numbers in the Deccan plateau; in Gujarat, from the Gulf of Khambat to the mountains of Rajasthan; and in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
Due to the caste-based structure in India, people of this community are often considered second-class citizens. This is seen in many professions that were traditionally known to be the preserve of the Koli community. The Koli people often migrated to other parts of the country, taking their unique culture with them.
In spite of all the discrimination faced by the Koli people, they have successfully preserved their distinctive cultural and social identity over the years. For some members of the Koli community, the surname Kolis is a proud symbol of their heritage and legacy.
Famous people with the name Kolis
- Stephanie Kolis: Ukrainian film director
- Mary Kolis Burdick: American president of the New Jersey State Bar Association
- Matt Kolis: American mixed martial artist
- Dan Kolis: American musician
- Tom Kolis: British actor
- Gerard Kolis: Former MLB player
- Brad Kolis: American professional wrestler
- Theo Kolis: American mixed martial artist
- Martin Kolis: Slovak composer and conductor
- John Kolis: American artist and animator