NameCensus.

UK surname

Colborne

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 349 people recorded with the Colborne surname, ranking it #8,778 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 353, ranked #13,081, down from #8,778 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ringwood, Lymington and Edmonsham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, Wiltshire and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colborne is 424 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.1%.

1881 census count

349

Ranked #8,778

Modern count

353

2016, ranked #13,081

Peak year

1901

424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colborne had 349 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,778 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016, ranked #13,081.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 424 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Colborne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colborne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colborne 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 283 #7,996
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 349 #8,778
1891 historical 384 #9,166
1901 historical 424 #9,102
1911 historical 408 #9,161
1997 modern 345 #12,291
1998 modern 365 #12,175
1999 modern 387 #11,722
2000 modern 361 #12,288
2001 modern 358 #12,181
2002 modern 373 #12,060
2003 modern 355 #12,285
2004 modern 353 #12,377
2005 modern 334 #12,818
2006 modern 337 #12,810
2007 modern 338 #12,925
2008 modern 335 #13,115
2009 modern 351 #12,940
2010 modern 366 #12,800
2011 modern 372 #12,519
2012 modern 357 #12,757
2013 modern 359 #12,917
2014 modern 358 #13,045
2015 modern 350 #13,159
2016 modern 353 #13,081

Geography

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Where Colbornes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ringwood, Lymington, Edmonsham, Woking and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, Wiltshire, Winchester, Amber Valley and Queensferry East. 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 Ringwood Hampshire
2 Lymington Hampshire
3 Edmonsham Dorset
4 Woking Surrey
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 001 New Forest
2 Wiltshire 043 Wiltshire
3 Winchester 012 Winchester
4 Amber Valley 017 Amber Valley
5 Queensferry East City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colborne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colborne

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Colborne, 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 Colborne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Colborne household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Colborne is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Colborne is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colborne falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Colborne 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 Colborne, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Colborne

The surname Colborne is of English origin, hailing from the villages of Colburn and Colborne in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, respectively. The name is derived from the Old English words 'col' meaning 'charcoal' and 'burna' meaning 'stream,' indicating that it originally referred to a stream near a charcoal-burning area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Colebrun.' This entry refers to a landowner in Nottinghamshire, suggesting that the name had already established itself in that region by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various forms, including Colburne, Colborne, and Colburn, reflecting the evolving spellings of the time. In the 13th century, a Robert de Colburne is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire, indicating the presence of the name in that county as well.

One notable bearer of the Colborne surname was Sir John Colborne (1778-1863), a British military officer who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada (now Ontario) from 1828 to 1836. He played a significant role in the suppression of the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837-1838.

Another prominent figure was Ridley Colborne Waddilove (1862-1938), a British politician and barrister who served as a Member of Parliament for the Unionist Party in the early 20th century.

In the 16th century, the Colborne family was well-established in Nottinghamshire, with several members holding influential positions in the region. One such individual was Thomas Colborne (1528-1583), who served as the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1572.

The name Colborne can also be traced to various place names in England, such as Colborne in Lincolnshire and Colburn in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its historical roots in the country.

Over the centuries, the Colborne surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, politicians, landowners, and members of the gentry. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has maintained a presence throughout the country's history, reflecting its origins in the rural landscapes of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colborne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colborne 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. Hampshire leads with 78 Colbornes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.15x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 78 11.15x
Dorset 50 22.31x
Surrey 46 2.77x
Middlesex 37 1.08x
Wiltshire 32 10.60x
Somerset 31 5.64x
Gloucestershire 16 2.39x
Sussex 14 2.43x
Devon 7 0.98x
Cumberland 6 2.04x
Suffolk 6 1.44x
Monmouthshire 4 1.62x
Cheshire 3 0.40x
Norfolk 3 0.57x
Berkshire 2 0.78x
Herefordshire 2 1.43x
Kent 2 0.17x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Warwickshire 2 0.23x
Derbyshire 1 0.19x
Glamorgan 1 0.17x
Hertfordshire 1 0.42x
Leicestershire 1 0.26x
Midlothian 1 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 2.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cranborne in Dorset leads with 25 Colbornes recorded in 1881 and an index of 922.51x.

Place Total Index
Cranborne 25 922.51x
Damerham 19 2638.89x
Edmondsham 17 6296.30x
Lymington 15 291.83x
Ringwood 11 245.54x
Woking 11 109.67x
Walton On Thames 9 117.80x
Battersea 8 6.37x
Stratton St Margaret 8 172.79x
Bristol St George 7 22.60x
Fulham London 7 14.14x
Hornsey 7 16.21x
Limehouse London 7 18.68x
Warblington 7 251.80x
Brighton 6 5.17x
Brixham 6 72.90x
Charterhouse Hinton 6 923.08x
Hastings St Mary 6 41.87x
Milton 6 344.83x
Send Ripley 6 276.50x
St George Hanover Square 6 9.97x
Whitsbury 6 2727.27x
Blendworth 5 1428.57x
Holdenhurst 5 27.23x
Idsworth 5 1086.96x
Rockbourne 5 943.40x
Wellow 5 308.64x
Wimborne Minster 5 138.12x
Chertsey 4 37.21x
Christchurch 4 26.37x
Doulting 4 563.38x
Hadleigh 4 99.26x
Warminster 4 60.42x
Yate 4 272.11x
East Pennard 3 422.54x
Heigham 3 10.65x
High Bolton 3 937.50x
Lyncombe Widcombe 3 20.85x
Southampton All Sts 3 24.98x
Tottenham 3 5.52x
Ashbury 2 250.00x
Aston 2 0.84x
Birkenhead 2 3.33x
Bungay St Mary 2 97.09x
Camberwell 2 0.92x
Chalbury 2 800.00x
Frome 2 15.22x
Lambeth 2 0.67x
Petersham 2 303.03x
South Stoneham 2 13.18x
St Giles Cripplegate 2 44.15x
St Mary Within 2 54.50x
St Woollos 2 7.26x
Walcot 2 6.83x
Whatley 2 400.00x
Alverstoke 1 3.95x
Blencogo 1 454.55x
Clapham 1 2.34x
Clevedon 1 17.51x
Cuckfield 1 17.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.54x
Fordingbridge 1 26.25x
Hallaton 1 119.05x
Hampstead London 1 1.88x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 23.58x
Holmer 1 39.68x
Horton 1 185.19x
Hulland Ward 1 222.22x
Leonard Stanley 1 113.64x
Limington 1 285.71x
Liverpool 1 0.41x
Llanover 1 11.86x
Monmouth 1 15.29x
Nursling 1 89.29x
Portsea 1 0.73x
Ramsgate 1 5.26x
Tormoham 1 3.33x
Watford 1 5.48x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.41x
Ystradyfodwg 1 1.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 12
Mary 11
Louisa 9
Emma 8
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Ethel 6
Fanny 6
Martha 6
Annie 5
Caroline 5
Emily 5
Florence 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Amelia 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Rosa 3
Bessie 2
Eliza 2
Faith 2
Flora 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Ada 1
Betsey 1
Betty 1
C.D. 1
Cath. 1
Deborah 1
Dinah 1
E. 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth. 1
Emilie 1
Ester 1
Georgia 1
Georgianna 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Katharine 1
Lina 1
Theodosia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Thomas 10
Charles 9
James 9
Joseph 9
Henry 8
William 8
Arthur 7
George 7
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Walter 5
Samuel 4
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Ephraim 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Richard 2
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Clement 1
Creswell 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Enos 1
Ephriam 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
F.A. 1
Fitzroy 1
Fred. 1
Fred.R.W. 1
Frederic 1
Hector 1
Jacob 1
Jonas 1
Langdon 1
Lot 1
Louis 1
Moses 1
Osborne 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Colborne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colborne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 349 people were recorded with the Colborne surname. That placed it at #8,778 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colborne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016. That gives Colborne a modern rank of #13,081.

What does the Colborne surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Colborne map show?

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