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Origin of the Surname Soulles
The surname Soulles presents a current geographical distribution that, although limited in available data, reveals interesting patterns that allow us to infer its possible origin. According to the information, it is registered in two countries: Peru and Russia, with an equal incidence of 1%. This scattered and seemingly dispersed distribution across different continents suggests that the surname does not have a significant presence in regions with high density of traditional surnames, such as Western Europe or Latin America in general. However, the presence in Peru, a country with Spanish colonial history, could indicate a Hispanic or European origin, while in Russia, a country with Slavic and Germanic roots, it could be due to migrations or later adaptations.
The low incidence and dispersed geographical distribution make it difficult to determine with certainty a single and clear origin. However, if we consider that in Peru the presence may be related to Spanish colonization and that in Russia it could be due to more recent migrations or adaptations, it is plausible that the surname has roots in Europe, specifically in the Iberian Peninsula or in some region of Eastern Europe. The absence of data in other European or Latin American countries with a higher concentration of surnames suggests that Soulles could be a relatively rare surname or one of specific origin, possibly linked to a particular region or community.
Etymology and Meaning of Soulles
Linguistic analysis of the surname Soulles indicates that it probably does not derive from a classic patronymic pattern in Spanish, such as those ending in -ez, nor from a widely known toponymic surname. The structure of the surname, with the ending in "-lles", does not correspond to the typical conventions of Spanish, Catalan, Basque or Galician. It is possible that its root originates from a Germanic, Slavic or even a less widespread language, given that the ending "-lles" can be found in surnames of French origin or in some variants of surnames in regions of Central Europe.
The prefix "Sou-" could derive from a root that in different languages means "tall", "solid" or "strong", although this would be a hypothesis, since there is no clear correspondence with evident Latin or Germanic roots. The ending "-lles" could be a plural form or a diminutive suffix in some languages, or even a phonetic adaptation of an original surname that has undergone changes over time.
In terms of classification, since it does not seem to derive from a proper name or from a clearly defined geographical place, it could be considered a surname of modified patronymic or toponymic origin, or even a surname of recent formation or adapted. The lack of known spelling variants and the limited presence in historical records make a definitive classification difficult. However, if a hypothesis were to be made, it could be a surname of European origin, possibly French or from some region with Germanic influence, which would have subsequently been spread or adapted in other contexts.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The current distribution in Peru and Russia, together, suggests that the surname Soulles may have arrived in these countries at different times and historical contexts. The presence in Peru, a country with strong Spanish influence, could indicate that the surname arrived during the colonial era or in later migrations, although its low incidence suggests that it was not a widely spread surname in the region. It is possible that it is a surname of European origin that arrived in America through migrants or colonizers, and that subsequently dispersed in specific communities.
On the other hand, the presence in Russia is even more enigmatic. It could be due to recent migrations, perhaps in the 20th century, when there were movements of people between Europe and Russia, or even to adaptations of surnames of European origin in diaspora contexts. The coincidence in incidence in both countries may be pure chance, but it may also reflect a pattern of migration or adaptation of surnames in different regions of the world.
The fact that the surname does not have a significant presence in other European or Latin American countries with a higher density of surnames suggests that it is not a widely spread surname in its region of origin, but rather a rare surname or a specific family that, for various reasons, dispersed its lineage on different continents. The history of migrations, colonization and migratory movements in the 19th and 20th centuries could explain itsdispersion, although without concrete historical data, these hypotheses remain in the field of informed speculation.
Variants of the Surname Soulles
Due to the lack of information and the apparent rarity of the surname, there are no widely documented spelling variants known. However, depending on its structure, there may be related forms or adaptations in different languages or regions. For example, in French, similar surnames might be "Soullier" or "Soullès," which share the root "Sou-" and the ending "-lles" or "-ès."
In other languages, especially in migration contexts, the surname could have been adapted phonetically or graphically, giving rise to variants such as "Soules", "Soull", or even "Soulless", although the latter would be more speculative. The relationship with surnames with roots in the French language or in French-speaking regions is plausible, given that the ending "-lles" is common in some French surnames.
Likewise, there could be related surnames that share the root "Sou-" and have different suffixes, reflecting the influence of different languages and onomastic traditions. Regional adaptation and phonetic evolution over time could have given rise to different forms of the surname in different countries, although without specific documented records, these hypotheses remain within the realm of reasoned speculation.
