NameCensus.

UK surname

Colak

A Turkish surname thought to derive from a personal name meaning "the one who walks with great strides".

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Colak surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 169, ranked #21,884, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, Hackney and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colak is 169 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8350.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

169

2016, ranked #21,884

Peak year

2013

169 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colak had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016, ranked #21,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Colak surname distribution map

The map shows where the Colak surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Colak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colak over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1997 modern 60 #31,629
1998 modern 58 #32,138
1999 modern 56 #32,461
2000 modern 51 #32,999
2001 modern 52 #32,764
2002 modern 75 #30,950
2003 modern 77 #30,762
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 167 #22,066
2016 modern 169 #21,884

Geography

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Where Colaks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coventry, Hackney, Enfield, Wandsworth and Westminster. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coventry 015 Coventry
2 Hackney 013 Hackney
3 Enfield 003 Enfield
4 Wandsworth 002 Wandsworth
5 Westminster 014 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colak

These lists show first names that appear often with the Colak surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colak

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Colak, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Colak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Colak household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Colak is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Colak is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colak falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Colak is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Colak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Colak

The surname Colak is of Turkish origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 14th century during the Ottoman Empire. The name is derived from the Turkish word "col," which means "steppe" or "desert," and "ak," meaning "white." Together, the name suggests someone who lived or worked in a white or pale-colored steppe region.

One of the earliest known references to the name Colak can be found in the Divan-i Lügat-it-Türk, a dictionary of Turkic languages compiled by Mahmud al-Kashgari in the 11th century. The name is mentioned as a descriptive term for people living in the vast steppes of Central Asia.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Colak Ahmed Pasha served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. He played a crucial role in the Ottoman conquests in Europe and is remembered for his military leadership and administrative skills.

Another prominent individual bearing the Colak surname was Mehmet Colak, a 17th-century Ottoman statesman and diplomat. He served as the ambassador to several European courts and was instrumental in facilitating trade and diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and other nations.

In the 19th century, a Turkish writer and poet named Abdülhak Hamit Colak gained recognition for his contributions to Turkish literature. He is considered one of the pioneers of the modern Turkish literary movement and is renowned for his plays and poems that explored themes of social reform and national identity.

During the Ottoman era, the Colak surname was particularly prevalent in regions such as Anatolia, Thrace, and the Balkans, where Turkish communities had settled. Over time, the name spread to other parts of the world through migration and diasporas.

It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as Cholak, Tschollak, or Tscholak, can also be found in historical records, reflecting the phonetic adaptations of the name in different languages and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colak surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 2 Colaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westminster St John in Middlesex leads with 2 Colaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 869.57x.

Place Total Index
Westminster St John 2 869.57x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Colak surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Colak households.

Occupation Count
Painter 1

FAQ

Colak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Colak surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016. That gives Colak a modern rank of #21,884.

What does the Colak surname mean?

A Turkish surname thought to derive from a personal name meaning "the one who walks with great strides".

What does the Colak map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Colak bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.