Coolen is a Dutch patronymic surname, derived from the given name Nicolaas, the Dutch form of Nicholas. The name originated as a short form or diminutive, with variants such as Cool and Kool being archaic nicknames for Nicolaas. Etymology and History The root name Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people," composed of nike (victory) and laos (people). Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop of Myra (in modern-day Turkey), is the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants, and his legendary generosity inspired the figure of Santa Claus, which was popularized in the 19th century from the Dutch Sinterklaas. The name Nicholas became widespread in the Christian world, common in England from the 12th century, though its popularity waned slightly after the Protestant Reformation. It has been borne by five popes and two tsars of Russia. Geographic Distribution and Variants As a Dutch surname, Coolen is patronymic, meaning "son of Cool" (short for Nicolaas). It is pronounced [ˈkoːlə(n)] in Dutch. Variant forms include Colijn, Cools, Colen, Kolen, and Koolen. In Canada, Coolen may also represent a modern spelling of Coulon. Notable Bearers Antoon Coolen (1897–1961), Dutch writer Coenrad Laurens Coolen (1773–?), Indonesian evangelist Jef Coolen (1944–2016), Belgian jazz trumpet player Louis Coolen (born 1952), Dutch football midfielder and manager Nadia Coolen (born 1994), Dutch football forward Nancy Coolen (born 1973), Dutch singer and television host Rini Coolen (born 1967), Dutch football defender and manager Tom Coolen (born 1953), Canadian ice hockey coach Yves Coolen (born 1995), Belgian cyclist Key Facts Meaning: From the given name Nicolaas (victory of the people) Origin: Dutch Type: Patronymic surname Usage Regions: Netherlands, Belgium, Canada