NameCensus.

UK surname

Colin

A diminutive form of Nicholas, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people."

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Colin surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 449, ranked #10,816, up from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Horley and Blewberry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rugby, Vale of White Horse and Partickhill and Hyndland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colin is 449 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 242.7%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

449

2016, ranked #10,816

Peak year

2016

449 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colin had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 449 in 2016, ranked #10,816.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 230 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Colin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colin 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 123 #14,886
1861 historical 230 #10,611
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 207 #14,546
1901 historical 228 #13,929
1911 historical 221 #14,044
1997 modern 350 #12,172
1998 modern 354 #12,438
1999 modern 350 #12,609
2000 modern 322 #13,307
2001 modern 316 #13,258
2002 modern 342 #12,837
2003 modern 335 #12,815
2004 modern 330 #12,994
2005 modern 343 #12,546
2006 modern 340 #12,722
2007 modern 354 #12,489
2008 modern 360 #12,431
2009 modern 360 #12,688
2010 modern 373 #12,628
2011 modern 377 #12,392
2012 modern 393 #11,874
2013 modern 427 #11,325
2014 modern 442 #11,057
2015 modern 448 #10,854
2016 modern 449 #10,816

Geography

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Where Colins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Horley, Blewberry, Aston Tirrold and Kenilworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rugby, Vale of White Horse, Partickhill and Hyndland and Three Rivers. 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 1
2 Horley Oxfordshire
3 Blewberry Berkshire
4 Aston Tirrold Berkshire
5 Kenilworth Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rugby 005 Rugby
2 Vale of White Horse 015 Vale of White Horse
3 Partickhill and Hyndland Glasgow City
4 Rugby 002 Rugby
5 Three Rivers 005 Three Rivers

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colin

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Colin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Colin 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Colin 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

Colin 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

Colin falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Colin 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Colin

The surname Colin has its origins in Scotland and northern England. It is derived from the Old French personal name "Colin," which is a diminutive form of the name "Col" or "Col," meaning "neck" or "dove." The name was likely brought to Britain by Norman settlers during the 11th and 12th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Colin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Colinus." The name was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Lowlands and the northern counties of England, such as Northumberland and Cumberland.

In the 13th century, the surname Colin appeared in various medieval records, including the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. One notable example from this period is William Colin, a Scottish landowner from Berwickshire, who was recorded in the Ragman Rolls.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Colin became more widespread across Scotland and northern England. Notable individuals with the surname during this period include Sir John Colin (1563-1618), a Scottish politician and landowner, and Robert Colin (1592-1662), a Scottish minister and theologian.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, several prominent figures bore the surname Colin. These include Sir William Colin (1720-1790), a Scottish merchant and landowner, and John Colin, 3rd Earl of Portmore (1700-1785), a British army officer who served in the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.

The surname Colin has also been associated with various place names in Scotland and northern England, such as Colin Glen in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Colintraive in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. These place names may have derived from individuals bearing the surname Colin who once lived or owned land in these areas.

Throughout its history, the surname Colin has undergone various spellings, including Collin, Colyne, and Colyn, reflecting the regional variations and linguistic influences in different parts of Scotland and northern England. Despite these variations, the surname has maintained its distinctive Scottish and northern English origins and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields, including politics, religion, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colin 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. Warwickshire leads with 34 Colins recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.16x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 34 10.16x
Berkshire 22 22.09x
Middlesex 16 1.21x
Worcestershire 15 8.66x
Lancashire 9 0.57x
Channel Islands 6 15.26x
Northamptonshire 5 4.01x
Lincolnshire 4 1.89x
Surrey 4 0.62x
Essex 3 1.15x
Shropshire 3 2.62x
Devon 2 0.72x
Durham 2 0.51x
Kent 2 0.44x
Northumberland 2 1.01x
Argyllshire 1 2.71x
Ayrshire 1 1.01x
Caithness 1 5.51x
Cheshire 1 0.34x
Glamorgan 1 0.43x
Lanarkshire 1 0.23x
Sussex 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromsgrove in Worcestershire leads with 13 Colins recorded in 1881 and an index of 222.98x.

Place Total Index
Bromsgrove 13 222.98x
Aston Upthorpe 12 15000.00x
Birmingham 9 8.07x
Wigan 9 40.91x
Cubbington 7 1555.56x
Grandborough 7 3684.21x
Sotwell 7 7777.78x
St Lawrence 5 467.29x
St Pancras London 5 4.68x
Bilsby 4 1739.13x
Kenilworth 4 211.64x
Shoreditch London 4 6.96x
Ashford Carbonell 3 2307.69x
Aston Tirrold 3 2142.86x
Battersea 3 6.15x
Bishopwearmouth 2 5.90x
Dodford 2 2000.00x
Offchurch 2 1333.33x
St Marylebone London 2 2.82x
Tiverton 2 42.02x
Wanstead 2 43.57x
Ayr 1 21.32x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.74x
Brighton 1 2.22x
Byfield 1 277.78x
Camberwell 1 1.18x
Clase 1 11.64x
Daventry 1 56.50x
Dunoon 1 131.58x
Eydon 1 500.00x
Fillongley 1 208.33x
Folkestone 1 11.39x
Glasgow 1 1.31x
Hampstead London 1 4.84x
Idlicote 1 2000.00x
Jesmond 1 35.97x
Kensington London 1 1.36x
Kings Norton 1 6.44x
Lewisham 1 4.14x
Napton On Hill 1 250.00x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 9.78x
Northfield 1 30.40x
St Saviour 1 46.08x
Stayley 1 29.85x
Stoke Newington London 1 9.68x
Thaxted 1 114.94x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 40.82x
Westminster St Margaret 1 15.63x
Wick 1 17.04x
Wootton Wawen 1 95.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Louisa 5
Sarah 5
Ann 3
Annie 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Louise 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Anne 1
Annette 1
Caroline 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Jeanne 1
Kate 1
M. 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Merill 1
Rosalie 1
Sophia 1
Tasny 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 7
George 6
Thomas 6
Charles 4
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
James 2
Stuart 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alphouse 1
Augustus 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Eugene 1
Francois 1
Jean 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Squire 1
W.M. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Colin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Colin surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 449 in 2016. That gives Colin a modern rank of #10,816.

What does the Colin surname mean?

A diminutive form of Nicholas, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people."

What does the Colin map show?

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