Surname Coldhill - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Coldhill: What does the surname Coldhill mean?
Coldhill is an English surname, believed to have originated in the medieval period and derived from a geographical or topographic name. It likely referred to a settlement on a hill where the climate was cold, or to the occupant of such a place.
The name was likely created by combining elements of the Old English words ‘coll’ (cold) and ‘hyll’ (hill). The place name would have been used as a distinguishing nickname for someone who came from a place with such a characteristic.
Surnames like Coldhill became more popular during the Middle Ages, when people began to feel a need to have a distinct identifier to set them apart from others living in the same locale. Coldhill would have been adopted as a surname to distinguish a family from another family who lived nearby and shared the same given name.
Today, people with this surname often have a rich heritage, usually linked to farming families who had preservation of tradition and community at the core of their lives. Individuals may trace their roots back to the 13th century when it is believed the earliest records of the name first appeared.
The surname Coldhill represents an important part of special family history, as it was likely adopted by the family generations ago in order to better identify themselves and connect with their roots.
Order DNA origin analysisColdhill: Where does the name Coldhill come from?
The last name Coldhill is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. Coldhill is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin and is associated with the County of Derbyshire, an area in the East Midlands of England. It is thought to be derived from the Old English Name ‘Celdhul’ and believed to signify someone from a hilly area.
The surname began to appear in records in the area around the 13th century, when people began to adopt and use official surnames. However, there are also regional variations of the name, including Coldloe, Caldhale, Caldell and Colehull. The name Coldhill tends to be most associated with Derbyshire and the surrounding areas, as well as further afield in counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Though the name Coldhill was most frequently found in East Midlands counties, its use has since become more widespread throughout the UK. Research has suggested that Coldhill is most common in the West Midlands region, as well as Durham, parts of Greater London, and northern counties such as Cumbria.
The name Coldhill is also beginning to appear in other countries, particularly in the United States. Census records and genealogical websites suggest that there are around 4,000 people in the US presently with the last name Coldhill, mostly living in the eastern and midwestern parts of the country, such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio and New York.
Though the name Coldhill originated from a specific area in the UK, it is now a much more global surname due to immigration and emigration. As such, it is generally thought to be more widespread than just the East Midlands.
Variations of the surname Coldhill
The Coldhill surname has several variants and spellings, with many of them having distinct origins and ethnicities.
Common variants of Coldhill include Coldale, Goldhagen, Goldhill, Kolodziej, Coldhal, Coldhull and Goldall. These variants are mostly derived from the English and Germanic languages.
Surnames of Germanic origin are often spelled differently from their original version. This can be attributed to a variety of reasons including immigration, language changes over time, and the phonetic differences between English and other languages.
The Coldhull surname is a variant of the original Germanic version, "Klutzelhul," as evidenced by the Hardlangerfuhrer, a book of names published in 1796 by Ludwig Mattig.
The Goldall name, a variant of the Coldhull surname, is believed to be of Middle English origin, and derived from a place name.
The Goldhagen and Kolodziej variant spellings stem from the Polish language and are usually derived from the personalized form of a longer name; in this case, Goldhagen is short for Goldhammer and Kolodziej is short for Kolodzievich.
All of these spellings of the Coldhill surname can be traced back to the Germanic and Middle English origins of the original surname, and each of them carries a unique cultural and historical significance.
Famous people with the name Coldhill
- Victoria Coldhill: American actress best known for her appearances in the films "The Perfect Caper" and "Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret".
- Brad Coldhill: Grammy-nominated record producer and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee who is best known for producing records for artists such as Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, and others.
- Julia Coldhill: British singer-songwriter who is best known for her debut single "Waiting for Love."
- John Coldhill: British politician who served two reports as a Member of Parliament in the 1980s.
- Jeremy Coldhill: British actor who is best known for appearing in Coronation Street.
- Catherine Coldhill: American author and illustrator known for the book "Linda's Locket."
- Robin Coldhill: English race car driver who was the winner of the 1969 British Touring Car Championship.
- Tom Coldhill: British film director best known for films such as "The Tolerant Cuckoo," "Bluebellings," and "The Weight of Memory."
- Jens Coldhill: German actor known for his roles in "The Babysitter's Club," "The Ghost Army," and "The Man Who Was Thursday."
- Barbara Coldhill: Canadian television presenter and voiceover artist who narrated the series "The Secret World of Animals" and "Tugboat Annie."