NameCensus.

UK surname

Colbeck

An English occupational surname referring to one who was a maker of coal-rakes or rakes for burning coal.

In the 1881 census there were 671 people recorded with the Colbeck surname, ranking it #5,378 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 656, ranked #8,116, down from #5,378 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Middlesborough and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, Wakefield and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colbeck is 849 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.2%.

1881 census count

671

Ranked #5,378

Modern count

656

2016, ranked #8,116

Peak year

1911

849 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colbeck had 671 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,378 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016, ranked #8,116.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 849 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Colbeck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colbeck surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colbeck 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 411 #5,901
1861 historical 422 #6,086
1881 historical 671 #5,378
1891 historical 721 #5,469
1901 historical 819 #5,515
1911 historical 849 #5,229
1997 modern 649 #7,664
1998 modern 677 #7,673
1999 modern 680 #7,684
2000 modern 661 #7,833
2001 modern 641 #7,878
2002 modern 647 #7,980
2003 modern 627 #8,040
2004 modern 629 #8,041
2005 modern 639 #7,879
2006 modern 637 #7,923
2007 modern 636 #8,009
2008 modern 638 #8,027
2009 modern 677 #7,841
2010 modern 707 #7,724
2011 modern 685 #7,819
2012 modern 650 #8,072
2013 modern 663 #8,082
2014 modern 658 #8,175
2015 modern 659 #8,109
2016 modern 656 #8,116

Geography

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Where Colbecks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Middlesborough, Manchester, Batley and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, Wakefield, Liverpool and Kirklees. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Middlesborough Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 001 Bassetlaw
2 Wakefield 002 Wakefield
3 Liverpool 022 Liverpool
4 Kirklees 009 Kirklees
5 Kirklees 012 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colbeck

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colbeck

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Colbeck is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Colbeck is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colbeck falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Colbeck is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Colbeck

The surname Colbeck originates from England, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "col" meaning "charcoal" and "bæc" meaning "stream" or "brook." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a stream or brook where charcoal was produced or transported.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Colbeck can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where it appears as "Colbeck." This indicates that the name was already well-established in Yorkshire by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, various spellings of the name emerged, including "Colbecke," "Colbeke," and "Colbeck." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

The Colbeck surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William Colbeck, a member of the Guild of Corpus Christi in York, who lived in the late 15th century.

In the 17th century, Sir John Colbeck (1624-1701) was a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London from 1694 to 1695.

During the 18th century, Joseph Colbeck (1744-1827) was a renowned English engraver and cartographer, known for his detailed maps and charts.

In the 19th century, Sir Nathaniel Colbeck (1818-1895) was a British naval officer who served as a captain during the Crimean War and later became a rear admiral.

Another notable figure was Sir John Colbeck (1865-1946), a British civil engineer who was involved in the construction of several major railway projects in South Africa and India.

Throughout its history, the Colbeck surname has been associated with various places in England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it is believed to have originated. Some of these place names include Colbeck Dale in Yorkshire and Colbeck Hill in Lancashire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colbeck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colbeck 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. Yorkshire leads with 467 Colbecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.18x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 467 7.18x
Lincolnshire 43 4.10x
Lancashire 40 0.51x
Middlesex 40 0.61x
Northumberland 14 1.43x
Kent 9 0.40x
Durham 6 0.31x
Gloucestershire 6 0.47x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.68x
Northamptonshire 5 0.81x
Suffolk 5 0.63x
Derbyshire 4 0.39x
Devon 4 0.29x
Surrey 4 0.13x
Warwickshire 4 0.24x
Staffordshire 3 0.14x
Sussex 3 0.27x
Channel Islands 2 1.03x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Essex 2 0.15x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Cumberland 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 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. Batley in Yorkshire leads with 124 Colbecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 200.58x.

Place Total Index
Batley 124 200.58x
Thornaby 23 94.61x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 22 93.14x
Liversedge 22 75.97x
Ashton Under Lyne 21 12.33x
Louth 20 83.13x
Huddersfield 18 18.99x
Leeds 18 4.90x
Sandal Magna 17 176.72x
Conisbrough 14 229.51x
Holy Trinity 14 8.95x
Hunslet 14 13.80x
St George Hanover Square 14 12.10x
West Ardsley 13 166.03x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 12 39.71x
Hipperholme Cum 10 34.99x
Linthorpe 10 25.76x
Heckmondwike 9 43.02x
Tickhill 9 216.87x
Dover St Mary Virgin 8 36.90x
Gomersal 8 26.35x
Soothill 8 34.04x
Thurlstone 8 124.61x
Middlesbrough 7 8.26x
Skegness 7 232.56x
St Pancras London 7 1.32x
Sutton Stoneferry 7 37.61x
Wakefield 7 14.02x
Wortley In Bramley 7 13.59x
Braithwell 6 731.71x
East Ardsley 6 106.57x
Harrow 6 59.82x
North Hamlet 6 521.74x
St Botolph Lincoln 6 79.47x
West Derby 6 2.63x
Dewsbury 5 7.49x
Fressingfield 5 193.80x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 8.57x
Peterborough 5 11.18x
St Marylebone London 5 1.43x
Swinton In Rotherham 5 29.07x
Tottenham 5 4.78x
Aston 4 0.88x
Barnsley 4 5.96x
Darton 4 60.06x
Hulme 4 2.46x
Kettlethorpe 4 727.27x
Kirkdale 4 3.05x
Matlock 4 28.99x
Newton Abbot St Mary 4 34.90x
Skegby 4 73.80x
Wolsingham 4 22.47x
Cadeby 3 491.80x
Clifton In Halifax 3 77.12x
Cullercoates 3 97.72x
Gildersome 3 38.36x
Hastings St Mary 3 10.89x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 3 20.33x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.28x
Tynemouth 3 5.74x
Beverley St Mary 2 21.05x
Bishopthorpe 2 160.00x
Crook Billy Row 2 8.00x
Croydon 2 1.13x
Frimley 2 21.95x
Kensington London 2 0.55x
Kirton Simon Weir 2 186.92x
Morley 2 5.91x
Prudhoe 2 29.41x
Sprotborough 2 384.62x
St Helier 2 3.16x
St Mary 2 45.98x
Worksop 2 7.62x
York Holy Trinity 2 35.59x
Ardsley 1 13.33x
Bilbrough 1 222.22x
Ingleby Arncliffe 1 144.93x
Ripon 1 6.63x
Toxteth Park 1 0.38x
Woodford 1 6.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 54
Sarah 24
Elizabeth 20
Emma 18
Hannah 17
Eliza 15
Jane 14
Annie 11
Ann 10
Harriet 9
Martha 9
Ada 7
Alice 7
Emily 7
Ellen 6
Edith 5
Margaret 5
Maria 5
Charlotte 4
Isabella 4
Ruth 4
Susan 4
Elizebeth 3
Florence 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Constance 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Ida 2
Margret 2
Priscilla 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Amelia 1
Anniee 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Diana 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elisa 1
Hephizabeth 1
Isabell 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 38
George 25
Thomas 22
Charles 17
James 17
Henry 15
Joseph 13
Samuel 9
Harry 8
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Ernest 5
Abraham 4
Arthur 4
Frederick 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Fredk. 2
Harold 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Joe 2
Jonathan 2
Luther 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Saml. 2
Simon 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Allan 1
Anthony 1
Arther 1
Ben 1
Benjaman 1
Christian 1
Christopher 1
Ellis 1
Eric 1
Ezra 1
Foster 1
Hardy 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jabez 1
Wm.Royde 1

FAQ

Colbeck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colbeck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 671 people were recorded with the Colbeck surname. That placed it at #5,378 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colbeck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016. That gives Colbeck a modern rank of #8,116.

What does the Colbeck surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to one who was a maker of coal-rakes or rakes for burning coal.

What does the Colbeck map show?

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