Surname Coulais - Meaning and Origin

Coulais: What does the surname Coulais mean?

The last name Coulais is a toponymic surname derived from the French words “Coule” (meaning “river”) and “ais” (meaning “district”). This indicates that people with this surname were likely from a district close to a river.

The original form of the surname was “de Culeis”, a French term that is derived from the Celtic word “coel”, which means “hollow”. This could refer to a hollow or valley near the river that was being inhabited by these people. The surname is also attributed to a city or town named Coulais which is located in the Rhône Valley of Burgandy, near Lyon.

It is possible that members of the Coulais family originated from this region and have since dispersed across France and around the globe, settling in other parts of Europe, North and South America, and South Africa.

The surname Coulais is quite rare, and is likely to be found mainly in French-speaking countries.

Coulais: Where does the name Coulais come from?

The last name Coulais is found throughout France today, with a distribution that is particularly concentrated in the western and central parts of the country. It appears to have its main origin in the French region of Brittany, where the first recorded usage of the name dates back to the 12th century.

The name is particularly common in the historic region of Loire Valley, where it is among the ten most common surnames in the area. It is also common in Paris and throughout the western part of the country, from the Atlantic Coast to the Massif Central mountains and north towards Normandy.

In addition, the surname may be found in the French départements of Hautes-Pyrénées, Pyrénées-Orientales, and Drôme, where it is still concentrated in the region today.

Outside of France, the name Coulais may be encountered in Québec, where it is particularly common in and around the St. Lawrence River. It may also be found in the United States, particularly in southern states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, due to settlers coming from France in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It has also been identified among people of French descent in Southwest Germany and Switzerland.

Variations of the surname Coulais

The surname Coulais can be spelled differently depending on the language and country of origin. Common variants of Coulais include Coulay, Coulayse, and Coulaisse.

Coulais is a French surname that was first found in the VIenne region of France. It can also be found in parts of the UK, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. It is believed to have multiple origins, including Gaelic, French, and German roots.

Variants of Coulais include Cauley, Coulas, Culas, Coulies, Cualay, Colas, and Couls. Caulee is another spelling which is derived from the French name Carreau. This suggests that it may be a variant of the Scottish surname McCarlie.

In Germany, Coulais can be found as Kulas, Koolas, Kéulas, Külas, Coelas, and Koehlas. This spelling is often used for people of Germanic descent living in France.

Coulais is also found in British settler communities of the United States, primarily in New England, and in some parts of Canada. It is sometimes spelled Cooley, Coolie, or Coulie in these countries.

Coulay is another spelling derived from the same French origin as Coulais. It is found mainly in Scotland, Ireland, and the United States, and may be spelled as COLAY or Culeigh in some cases.

In Ireland, the surname Coulais is spelled similarly but with a different origin. Coles and O’Coles are derived from the Gaelic name Ó Coil, and are commonly found in the province of Leinster.

Famous people with the name Coulais

• Bruno Coulais: French composer and music arranger, known for his soundtrack contributions for films, such as Les Choristes, and for his collaborations with Cirque du Soleil.
• Marie-Pierre Coulais: French film editor who worked on films such as La Femme Nikita and 8 Women.
• Michel Coulais: French actor and voice actor, best known for his voice-over role as Kevyn in the animated series, Oggy and the Cockroaches.
• Colin Coulais: French professional footballer.
• Thierry Coulais: French composer, musician and conductor best known for his work on the soundtrack for the animated film, Les Revenants.
• Pascal Coulais: French music arranger and keyboardist, best known for his work on the score of animated film, Kirikou and the Sorceress.
• Héloïse Coulais: French voice actress best known for several films and series including the French version of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia.
• Wilfrid Coulais: French professional footballer.
• Pascal-Loïc Coulais: French composer and musician, best known for creating the score of several animated films.
• Benoît Coulais: French footballer.
• Reine Coulais: French writer, best known for her children's fantasy novel, Fée Scarlet.
• Élyse Coulais: French figure skater, best known for her performance in the 1991 French Open Championships.

Other surnames

Coulas