Recorded in many forms including Solan, Solano, Sollon, Sollom, Sollam, Solon, Solleme, Solime amd possibly Sollis and Sollas, and recorded in France, Spain and England, this medieval surname of many spellings has almost as many possible translations. Usually it originated from the medieval nickname "Sol", implying a person with a sunny disposition, one who smiled a lot. However it can also be locational from one of the many villages in Europe called Sol, or Le Sol, or Solano, meaning "Little sol". All refer to "a sunny place". A further possibility is that for some name holders at least, the name was originally job descriptive, and described a person who worked at a "sol". This referred to the threshing area or barn of a large farm. The name in England is also cross linked with the similar surnames Sollis and Sollas, from the Olde French "solas", and with a similar meaning of sunny or comfortable. These surnames are first recorded in the year 1269 when Robert Solace appears in the rolls of the county of Northumberland. Early church register recordings include George Solime at St Mary Woolchurch, city of London, in 1592, Jean Solleme, a Huguenot, recorded at the French church,Threadneedle Street, London, on February 19th 1637, Anthony Sollam, christened at St Martins in the Field, Westminster, on May 1st 1699, and Michael Solan, christened at Shoreditch, London, on June 3rd 1840. The first known recording of the name in its "modern" spelling is probably that of Henry Sollyne, christened at St Botolphs without Aldgate, London, on June 24th 1565, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st (1558 - 1603).

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