NameCensus.

UK surname

Colam

In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Colam surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 81, ranked #32,971, down from #22,745 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Louth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, South Derbyshire and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colam is 137 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.6%.

1881 census count

76

Ranked #22,745

Modern count

81

2016, ranked #32,971

Peak year

1911

137 bearers

Map years

3

1891 to 1911

Key insights

  • Colam had 76 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,745 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 81 in 2016, ranked #32,971.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Colam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colam surname density by area, 1911 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colam 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
1851 historical 14 #30,790
1861 historical 37 #29,339
1881 historical 76 #22,745
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 96 #28,188
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 99 #27,871
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 91 #29,406
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 87 #32,180
2013 modern 84 #32,745
2014 modern 85 #32,743
2015 modern 79 #33,127
2016 modern 81 #32,971

Geography

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Where Colams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Louth, London parishes and Boston (incl. Boston allotments). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, South Derbyshire, Huntingdonshire, South Hams and Medway. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Louth Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 012 Allerdale
2 South Derbyshire 002 South Derbyshire
3 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
4 South Hams 001 South Hams
5 Medway 032 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Colam, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Colam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Colam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Colam is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Colam is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colam falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Colam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Colam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colam 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. Lincolnshire leads with 51 Colams recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.60x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 51 43.60x
Cambridgeshire 6 12.95x
Essex 6 4.16x
Surrey 6 1.68x
Norfolk 5 4.45x
Yorkshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Louth in Lincolnshire leads with 18 Colams recorded in 1881 and an index of 671.64x.

Place Total Index
Louth 18 671.64x
Boston 13 366.20x
Battersea 6 22.29x
March 6 387.10x
West Ham 6 18.82x
Corby 5 2500.00x
Heigham 5 82.78x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 5 303.03x
Tetford 5 3333.33x
St Botolph Lincoln 3 357.14x
Billingborough 1 333.33x
Clee With Weelsby 1 39.06x
Sculcoates 1 8.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 5
Lucy 5
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Kate 3
Ada 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Lucey 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Laura 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
William 3
Albert 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
James 1
Jesse 1
Jos.W. 1
Marcham 1
Matthias 1
Moses 1
Robt. 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 Colam households.

FAQ

Colam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Colam surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 81 in 2016. That gives Colam a modern rank of #32,971.

What does the Colam map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Colam 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.