Coles (surname)
# Coles (surname)

Coles is a patronymic surname of English origins deriving from either a pet form of the name Nicholas or from the Old English word meaning '"coal black".

Notable people with the surname include:

* Arthur William Coles (1892–1982), Australian businessman
* Vernell Eufaye "Bimbo" Coles (b. 1968), American basketball player
* Bryony Jean Coles (b. 1946), British prehistoric archaeologist
* Cameron Coles (b. 1974), Australian-born Scottish cricketer
* Cecil Frederick Coles (1888–1918), British composer
* Charles "Honi" Coles (1911–1992), American tap dancer
* Charlie Coles (1942–2013), American basketball player and coach
* Cowper Phipps Coles (1819–1870), British naval captain and designer
* Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1959), British writer, 50% of Manning Coles
* Daniel Richard Coles (b. 1981), English footballer
* Darnell Coles (b. 1962), American baseball player and coach
* Dennis Coles (b. 1970), Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan
* Edward Coles (1786–1868), American politician
* Elisha Coles (1640–1680), English lexicographer
* Elizabeth Coles (1912–1975), British novelist Elizabeth Taylor
* Fenton George Coles (b. 1937), Welsh rugby player
* George Coles (cricketer, born 1798) (1798–1865), English amateur cricketer
* George Coles (politician) (1810–1875), Canadian politician; first Premier of Prince Edward Island
* George Edward Coles (1851–1903), English cricketer
* George Coles (architect) (1884–1963), English architect
* George James "G.J." Coles (1885–1977), founder of what was to become the Coles Group shopping empire, Australia
* H. Brent Coles (b. 1951), mayor of Boyse, Idaho
* Isaac Coles (1747–1813), American politician
* Kimberly Coles (b. 1962), American actress
* Joanne Coles (b. 1992), English motorcycle trials rider
* John Coles (1833–1919), English businessman
* John Coles (archaeologist) (1930-2020), archaeologist
* John David Coles, American TV and film director
* Leslie Stephen Coles (1941–2014), American biogerontologist and a key member of the Supercentenarian Research Foundation
* Laveranues Leon Coles (b. 1977), American football player
* Lisa Coles (b. 1964), American broadcaster Lisa Guerrero
* Manning Coles, pseudonymous of British spy writer's Adelaide Manning (1891-1955) and Cyril Coles (1899-1965)
* Mark Coles, New Zealand cricket coach
* Miriam Coles Harris (1834–1925), author whose anonymous first novel attracted several impostors
* Nathaniel Adams Coles (1919–1965), American jazz musician Nat King Cole
* Neil Chapman Coles (b. 1934), British golfer
* Peter Coles (b. 1963), Professor of Astrophysics at Cardiff University
* Ray Coles, mayor and committee member Lakewood, New Jersey
* Richard Coles (b. 1962), British musician and clergyman
* Robert Coles (b. 1929), American psychiatrist, educator, author
* Robert Coles (c. 1600–1655), early settler in New England
* Walter Coles (1790–1857), U.S. Representative from Virginia
* William Coles Finch (1864–1944),English author and historian
* Wayne Coles-Janess, Australian writer, film director and producer
