Cole

The surname is variously from:

1. A nickname from Old English col (“coal, coal-black”),
2. A patronymic from Nicholas (see also Coles, Colson, Colle).
3. A variation of Cowell (which itself has several origins).
4. As an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, variant of McCool.
5. As a German surname, Americanized from Kohl.
6. As a Dutch surname, Americanized from Kool.
7. As a French surname, Americanized/calqued from Charbonneau, influenced by the first sense.

Cole (countable and uncountable, plural Coles)

1. (countable) A male given name
   1. A diminutive of the male given name Nicholas.
   2. A male given name transferred from the surname.
2. (countable) A surname.
   1. A surname, variant of Cowell. from Cowell
   2. A surname transferred from the given name.
3. A placename:
   1. A river in the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England, which joins the Rivers Blythe and Tame north-east of Coleshill (Warwickshire).
   2. A river forming the border between Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, England, which joins the Thames near Lechlade.
   3. A hamlet in Pitcombe parish, South Somerset district, Somerset, England (OS grid ref ST6633).
   4. Ellipsis of Cole County.

• -coel, Cleo, Cloe, ecol.