Find out how popular the last name Kolles is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kolles.

Kolles, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kolles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kolles in America

Kolles is the 98099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kolles surname appeared 185 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kolles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kolles to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kolles

The surname Kolles is believed to have originated in Germany, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Kolle," which means "bald" or "bald-headed." This likely suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was bald or had a distinctive bald spot.

In its early days, the name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where it appeared in various historical records and documents. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) from the late 16th century, where a certain Hans Kolles was mentioned as a resident of a small village near Dresden.

The Kolles name also made an appearance in the famous Dithmarscher Landgebräuche, a legal code and collection of regional laws from the 14th century that governed the area of Dithmarschen in northern Germany. However, the specific details of this reference have been lost to time.

As the name spread across different regions of Germany, it underwent several spelling variations, such as Kohles, Kohll, and Kohlles. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and regional pronunciations.

One notable figure in history who bore the Kolles surname was Johann Kolles (1558-1628), a German theologian and professor of philosophy at the University of Wittenberg. He was known for his writings on metaphysics and logic, which were influential during the early 17th century.

Another individual of note was Heinrich Kolles (1698-1772), a renowned clockmaker from the city of Augsburg. His intricate and beautifully crafted timepieces were highly sought after by wealthy patrons across Europe, and several of his works are still preserved in museums today.

In the 19th century, a family by the name of Kolles settled in the town of Gröningen, near Hanover, where they established a successful business in the textile industry. Several members of this family, including Heinrich Kolles (1823-1901) and his son Karl Kolles (1856-1932), played significant roles in the town's economic and social affairs.

Another prominent figure was Max Kolles (1880-1958), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other cities during the early 20th century. His most famous work is the Kolles Haus, a residential building in Berlin's Charlottenburg district, which is still standing today and considered an excellent example of Art Nouveau architecture.

While the Kolles name may not be as widespread as some other German surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kolles

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kolles.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kolles was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kolles has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kolles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kolles, please contact us.

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