Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Columbus

      Origin

      Latin

      Meaning

      Dove

      Variations

      Columbia, Columbine, Columbo
      The name Columbus has its origins in the Latin language, deriving from the word columbus, which translates to dove. The association with the dove carries symbolic significance, representing qualities such as peace, purity, and gentleness. Throughout history, the name Columbus has gained prominence primarily due to the renowned Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus. His extraordinary voyages to the Americas in the late 15th century established an enduring legacy, forever linking his name with exploration and discovery.

      In modern-day usage, the name Columbus persists as a lasting tribute to Christopher Columbus and his pioneering spirit. Many cities, towns, and regions around the world bear the name Columbus as an homage to the explorer's significant historical impact. For instance, the capital city of Ohio, United States, is named Columbus, underscoring the city's position as a cultural and economic hub in the region. Moreover, a number of institutions, such as universities, schools, and corporations, have adopted the name Columbus, further contributing to its prominence in contemporary society.

      Overall, the name Columbus holds deep roots in Latin etymology and symbolizes peace and purity. Its historical association with the explorer Christopher Columbus and its prevalence in present-day toponymy and nomenclature demonstrates the enduring influence of this name throughout the centuries.

      Based on our records...

      Smith

      Smith

      This is the most common surname associated with Columbus.
      Mary

      Mary

      This is the most common name of those married to a Columbus.
      Columbus

      Columbus

      This is the most common name for a child of a Columbus.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1893 is when there were the most people born with the first name Columbus.

      Explore the origins of another name.