Columbus
/kəˈlʌm.bəs/noun
A surname and given name, most famously borne by the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.
Did you know?The name Columbus comes from Latin *columba*, meaning “dove,” and was used as a learned or Latinized surname long before it became famous through Christopher Columbus.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
columba
“dove”
Late Latin
Latin
Columbus
“a Latinized personal name or surname derived from columba”
15th Century
Latin/Italian
Cristoforo Colombo
“the Italian form of Christopher Columbus's name”
15th Century
Spanish
Cristóbal Colón
“the Spanish form of Christopher Columbus's name”
Modern English
English
Columbus
“the established English surname and historical name”
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