NameCensus.

UK surname

Colclough

A locational or topographic surname referring to one who lived near a steep slope or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 1,361 people recorded with the Colclough surname, ranking it #3,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,484, ranked #2,657, up from #3,011 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Trentham, Wolstanton and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colclough is 2,600 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.5%.

1881 census count

1,361

Ranked #3,011

Modern count

2,484

2016, ranked #2,657

Peak year

2010

2,600 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colclough had 1,361 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,011 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,484 in 2016, ranked #2,657.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,822 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Colclough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colclough surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colclough 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 822 #3,281
1861 historical 754 #3,625
1881 historical 1,361 #3,011
1891 historical 1,419 #3,072
1901 historical 1,822 #2,882
1911 historical 1,686 #2,906
1997 modern 1,692 #3,529
1998 modern 2,487 #2,626
1999 modern 2,551 #2,578
2000 modern 2,504 #2,614
2001 modern 2,496 #2,569
2002 modern 2,542 #2,575
2003 modern 2,472 #2,590
2004 modern 2,499 #2,572
2005 modern 2,447 #2,586
2006 modern 2,462 #2,577
2007 modern 2,495 #2,573
2008 modern 2,512 #2,577
2009 modern 2,560 #2,589
2010 modern 2,600 #2,606
2011 modern 2,580 #2,597
2012 modern 2,493 #2,625
2013 modern 2,495 #2,668
2014 modern 2,518 #2,664
2015 modern 2,511 #2,645
2016 modern 2,484 #2,657

Geography

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Where Colcloughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Trentham, Wolstanton, Burslem, Newcastle-under Lyne and Stone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. 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 Trentham Staffordshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Newcastle-under Lyne Staffordshire
5 Stone Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 017 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Stoke-on-Trent 020 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Stoke-on-Trent 014 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Stoke-on-Trent 004 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Newcastle-under-Lyme 003 Newcastle-under-Lyme

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colclough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colclough

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Colclough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Colclough 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Colclough is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Colclough is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colclough 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 Colclough 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 Colclough, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Colclough

The surname Colclough originated in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "col" meaning coal and "clough" meaning a ravine or valley. The name likely referred to an area where coal was mined or burnt.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls from 1296, which mention a John Colclough. There are also references to individuals with this surname in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273.

In the 14th century, a family by the name of Colclough resided in the village of Winwick, Cheshire. They were landowners and their name is associated with the place name Colclough Hall, which still exists today.

The Colclough surname has also been historically spelled in various ways, such as Colcloughe, Colcloughe, and Colclowe. These variations can be found in historical records from different regions of England.

Notable individuals with the Colclough surname include:

1. Sir Thomas Colclough (1537-1618), an English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. John Colclough (1623-1679), an Irish landowner and politician who served as a Member of the Irish Parliament.

3. Sir Vesey Colclough (1680-1737), an Irish politician and landowner who represented County Wexford in the Irish House of Commons.

4. Reverend John Colclough (1714-1789), an Anglican clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.

5. Sir Thomas Colclough (1740-1828), an Irish baronet and landowner who served as a Member of the Irish Parliament.

The Colclough name has also been associated with various place names throughout England and Ireland, such as Colclough Hall in Cheshire, Colclough's Barn in Buckinghamshire, and Colclough Park in County Wexford, Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colclough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colclough 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. Staffordshire leads with 1,010 Colcloughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.52x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 1,010 22.52x
Cheshire 138 4.71x
Lancashire 68 0.43x
Middlesex 31 0.23x
Yorkshire 23 0.17x
Derbyshire 16 0.77x
Leicestershire 12 0.81x
Hampshire 11 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.61x
Lanarkshire 8 0.19x
Warwickshire 7 0.21x
Kent 6 0.13x
Somerset 6 0.28x
Berkshire 2 0.20x
Cumberland 2 0.17x
Durham 2 0.05x
Essex 2 0.08x
Northamptonshire 2 0.16x
Oxfordshire 2 0.24x
Surrey 2 0.03x
Sussex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 377 Colcloughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.27x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 377 79.27x
Burslem 117 91.07x
Wolstanton 111 81.49x
Audley 77 173.54x
Wolstanton Oldcott 53 326.15x
Trentham 51 133.72x
Stone 49 85.43x
Betchton 23 611.70x
Newcastle Under Lyme 23 28.98x
Alsager 20 273.97x
Monks Coppenhall 19 17.17x
Wolstanton Knutton 19 69.39x
Darlaston 17 27.43x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 16 198.02x
Dilhorne 16 214.48x
Macclesfield 14 10.74x
Caverswall 12 51.48x
Church Coppenhall 12 91.53x
St Pancras London 12 1.12x
Fulham London 11 5.71x
Harborne 11 7.65x
Nottingham St Mary 11 2.37x
Barton Upon Irwell 10 8.43x
Church Lawton 10 266.67x
Bilston 9 10.36x
Congleton 9 17.76x
Leicester St Margaret 9 2.51x
Bury 8 4.44x
Oldham 8 1.57x
Portsea 8 1.50x
Wolstanton Chesterton 8 34.90x
Linton 7 127.97x
Newton 7 5.76x
Rocester 7 125.90x
Smallthorne 7 42.04x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 7 121.11x
Armley 6 10.33x
Bedminster 6 2.99x
Birmingham 6 0.54x
Burton Upon Trent 6 5.72x
Lewisham 6 2.48x
Norton In Moors 6 25.27x
Odd Rode 6 41.29x
Tonge 6 18.14x
Alrewas 5 115.21x
Barnsley 5 3.68x
Hartshorn 5 63.61x
St George Hanover Square 5 2.14x
Barony 4 0.37x
Chester St John Baptist 4 7.59x
Knottingley 4 17.29x
Maryhill 4 4.76x
Moss Side 4 4.82x
Newbold Astbury 4 114.61x
Salford 4 0.86x
West Bromwich 4 1.56x
Worsley 4 4.12x
Ardsley 3 19.78x
Cheadle 3 13.93x
Cole Orton 3 110.29x
Layton With Warbreck 3 5.19x
Manchester 3 0.42x
Aldershot 2 2.19x
Aston By Sutton 2 153.85x
Belper 2 4.96x
Biddulph 2 7.91x
Blackrod 2 10.21x
Cheetham 2 1.70x
E Adderbury 2 48.43x
Everton 2 0.40x
Hulme 2 0.61x
Liverpool 2 0.21x
Northampton Priory St 2 2.67x
Rawmarsh 2 4.30x
Stockton On Tees 2 1.05x
Uttoxeter 2 8.71x
Wargrave 2 23.34x
West Ham 2 0.35x
Whitehaven 2 3.28x
Kirkleatham 1 5.62x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 101
William 74
James 53
Thomas 48
Joseph 44
Samuel 35
Henry 28
George 26
Charles 21
Frederick 18
Arthur 16
Alfred 13
Albert 11
Edward 11
Elijah 11
Richard 11
Herbert 10
Isaac 8
Enoch 7
Ernest 7
Benjamin 6
Daniel 5
David 5
Edwin 5
Aaron 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Frank 3
Moses 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Abel 2
Beauchamp 2
Broughton 2
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Elisha 2
Emanuel 2
Ephraim 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Leonard 2
Levi 2
Peter 2
Sampson 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wilmot 2
Elija 1

FAQ

Colclough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colclough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,361 people were recorded with the Colclough surname. That placed it at #3,011 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colclough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,484 in 2016. That gives Colclough a modern rank of #2,657.

What does the Colclough surname mean?

A locational or topographic surname referring to one who lived near a steep slope or hill.

What does the Colclough map show?

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