Surname Goulin - Meaning and Origin
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Goulin: What does the surname Goulin mean?
The last name Goulin is French in origin and can be traced back to the region of Brittany in Western France. It is believed to come from the Old French word "goullon", which was a term used to describe a type of person who did carpentry or manufactured tools and weapons in the Middle Ages.
The name Goulin was most likely taken by an artisan who practiced any one of these trades, and it would have been used to distinguish them from people in the general population. The name has stayed in use over the years and has been passed down to many generations since.
Today, the meaning of the name Goulin is associated more with the physical trade that the person who originally took the name was associated with, rather than a particular family. It is a reminder of the hard work of those who came before us.
The literal translation of Goulin is "man of steel," making it quite a fitting name for a skilled craftsman of that era. While the literal meaning of the name has been lost over time, the heritage and hard work it signifies still remain strong.
Order DNA origin analysisGoulin: Where does the name Goulin come from?
The last name Goulin is a French name that is common mainly in the regions of Normandy and in the Picardy region of Northern France, particularly around the city of Amiens.
In France, the name is associated with the Normandy area, but is also found around the Brie region, to the south of Paris, and, according to France's population registers, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of Eastern France close to the border with Switzerland.
There are also several people in the United States with the surname, mainly descendants of French emigrants who left the country for New England during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Apart from France and the United States, the last name Goulin can be found in Jerusalem, in certain parts of South Africa, in the Dominican Republic, in Canada, in Colombia and in various other countries.
The coat of arms of the Goulin family is a shield with a chevron in the middle, a lion at the top and two gold stars at the bottom. The family crest also contains a lion and a star.
Variations of the surname Goulin
Goulin is an uncommon French surname which derives from the Old French word ‘goule’ which referred to a shaft of a spear or lance. Variants of the surname include Goulain, Gulain, Goulaud, Gulaud, Goulaut, Gulaut, Goullien, Goulon, Glaydt, and Gollon. Spellings may vary according to the region in which the surname was used. In some cases, the word 'Goulin' was incorrectly spelled as Goulen or Gole.
Other surnames found in the same regions and countries as Goulin include Gouillet, Gollot, Golini, and Goulut. These surnames are similar to Goulin since they all derived from the French word ‘goule’, but they never appeared in the same families.
Goullien is the most common variation of the surname. This variant originated in the region of Brittany in France and is still in use today. Other variants found in the same area include Goulaud and Goulon. In some circumstances, Gulain and Glaydt were used as alternative spellings of Goulaud. These forms of the surname were the most common in Normandy.
Goulut is the most uncommon form of the surname in France, but it is also found in some parts of the United States. Goulut is more often spelled as Gulot, which is a form of the Spanish language spelling of the surname.
In some cases, the surname is translated to English and spelled as Golon or Gulon. Regardless of the spelling variation, the surname all ultimately derive from the French word ‘goule’.
Famous people with the name Goulin
- Jean-Christophe Goulin: French actor.
- Eugénie Goulin: French linguist, specialising in the Celtic languages.
- Jeanne Goulin: French professional women’s alpine downhill skier.
- Gérard Goulin: French middle-distance runner.
- Romain Goulin: French professional rugby union player.
- Nicolas Goulin: French philosopher and author of numerous books and articles on philosophy and psychology.
- Étienne Goulin: French painter, lithographer and photographer.
- Xavier Goulin: French former professional road racing cyclist and television sports commentator.
- Raphaël Goulin: French former show jumper and dressage rider.
- André Goulin: French professional basketball player.