Surname Paulinus - Meaning and Origin
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Paulinus: What does the surname Paulinus mean?
The last name Paulinus is derived from the Latin first name Paulinus, which was a derivative of the Roman family name Paulus. This name means “small” or “humble” and has been popular in Europe since the Middle Ages. It can be found in many variations including the Italian Paullino, the Spanish Paúl, and the German Pallin.
The surname Paulinus has typically been used to denote an individual of a humble, lesser status. This could be seen in the Middle Ages, when the name was often associated with poorer, rural families that found themselves at the lower end of the social hierarchy. It could also denote a religious affiliation, as the Latin name comes from the same root as the famous first century Christian Saint Paul.
Paulinus is a name with a long and rich history. It carries with it connotations of humility, faith, and devotion, which have all been important throughout the centuries. While a reminder of simpler times, the name brings to mind an individual of deep conviction and principles.
Order DNA origin analysisPaulinus: Where does the name Paulinus come from?
Paulinus is a Latin name that is derived from the name Paulus or Paul, meaning ‘small’. The name was popular in Medieval Europe, and was especially popular among Germanic noble families. Today, the name Paulinus is most common in Germany, Austria, Poland, and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is also popular in Latin American countries, either as a given name or a surname.
In Germany, Paulinus is one of the oldest surnames and was popularised by the eleventh century saint named Paulinus of Nola. His name subsequently spread and it became a popular name for newborn boys. Records from the 16th century reveal that the surname Paulinus was quite prominent in East and West Prussia, although the name was less common in other parts of Germany.
The name is not as common as it once was, although its presence is still strong in Central Europe. It can be found in Poland, as well as Italy and Austria among countries of Germanic origin. The Paulinus surname is also common in the northeastern parts of France, as well as in Belgium. In these countries, it is usually a spelling variant of the French surname Paullin.
In Latin America, the surname Paulinus is somewhat more common, especially in countries with a large Roman Catholic population. This could be due to the spread of Christianity through Spanish colonial influence in the region. It is most popular in Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala, among other Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. As a given name, it is much less common among Latin Americans, although is still used.
Variations of the surname Paulinus
The surname Paulinus has variants, alternate spellings, and other surnames of similar origin.
Variants of the surname Paulinus include: Paulino, Paulin, Paulinio, and Palau. All of these variants originated from the Latin root name Paulinus, meaning “little” or “small”.
Alternate spellings of the surname Paulinus include: Polinus, Polin, Polieno, Palanio, and Pallane. These changes to the spelling of the surname likely came about due to spelling variations by families or by immigrants and other individuals wishing to have their surname modified.
Other surnames related to Paulinus are: Palin, Paulina, Palenci, Polina, Poulain, Pauly, Paullin, and Paulus. All of these similar surnames originated from the Latin root name Paulinus, and may have been used by families or immigrants due to regional and linguistic variations.
In addition to these surnames, Paulinus is also the name of several saints, knights, Spanish poets, bishops, Bishop of Nola, and theologians, many of whom may have influenced the use and origin of Paulinus as a surname.
Famous people with the name Paulinus
- Saint Paulinus of Nola (354-431), Roman poet, bishop and saint.
- T. P. Paulinus Orosius (fl. 400s), early Christian historian.
- Paschasius Radbertus (Also known as Paulinus of Corbie) (ca 780: 865), Frankish theologian and poet.
- St. Paulinus of Trier (also known as Paulinus of Aquileia) (790−821), Christian bishop and martyr.
- Paulinus of St. Bartholomew (d. 881), Benedictine abbot and saint.
- Cornelius Petrus Tiele (1830–1902), Dutch Christian thinker and historian.
- Ignaz Paul Vital Troxler (1780-1866), Swiss theologian.
- Josef Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788-1857), German poet and novelist.
- Henri Marie-Joseph Joly de Lotbinière (1800–1866), French-Canadian politician.
- Wilhelm Hasselmann (1810-1873), German musicologist and composer.
- Engelbertus Paulinus (1819-1885), Dutch portrait and landscape painter.
- August Paulinus (1827–1886), German typographer and asylum doctor,
- Paulinus Von Kirchberg (1827-1904), German Catholic statesman.
- Albert Paulinus (1830-1901), Dutch painter and draftsman.
- Joseph E. Paulin (1834-1905), French Salvation Army general.
- Jacintho Godinho de Mattos (1836-1902), Brazilian physician.
- Friedrich Freiherr von der Heydte (1890–1944), German World War II general.
- Lucio Berriel de Castro (1891–1945), Cuban politician.
- Edward Norman Paulin (1907-1983), British diplomat and judge of the High Court of Tanzania.
- Reggie Paulin (1942–2014), Jamaican-born British jazz drummer.