NameCensus.

UK surname

Collar

A surname potentially referring to a maker or seller of collars.

In the 1881 census there were 282 people recorded with the Collar surname, ranking it #10,148 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 310, ranked #14,406, down from #10,148 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gestingthorpe, Finchingfield and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Braintree and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Collar is 421 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.9%.

1881 census count

282

Ranked #10,148

Modern count

310

2016, ranked #14,406

Peak year

1911

421 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Collar had 282 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,148 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016, ranked #14,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 421 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Collar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Collar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Collar 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 210 #10,030
1861 historical 232 #10,535
1881 historical 282 #10,148
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 394 #9,579
1911 historical 421 #8,950
1997 modern 325 #12,832
1998 modern 328 #13,100
1999 modern 337 #12,942
2000 modern 330 #13,066
2001 modern 325 #13,030
2002 modern 314 #13,589
2003 modern 313 #13,443
2004 modern 298 #13,937
2005 modern 288 #14,189
2006 modern 287 #14,295
2007 modern 282 #14,618
2008 modern 287 #14,580
2009 modern 298 #14,480
2010 modern 314 #14,258
2011 modern 315 #14,131
2012 modern 306 #14,327
2013 modern 313 #14,299
2014 modern 309 #14,533
2015 modern 311 #14,369
2016 modern 310 #14,406

Geography

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Where Collars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gestingthorpe, Finchingfield, London parishes, Yeldham, Little and Ridgwell, Stamborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Braintree and Babergh. 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 Gestingthorpe Suffolk
2 Finchingfield Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Yeldham, Little Essex
5 Ridgwell, Stamborne Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
2 Braintree 013 Braintree
3 Braintree 018 Braintree
4 Braintree 005 Braintree
5 Babergh 010 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Collar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Collar

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

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Collar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Collar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Collar 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

Collar 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

Collar falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Collar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Collar

The surname Collar is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "col" or "cole," which means charcoal or coal. The name is believed to have originated in areas where coal mining and charcoal burning were prominent occupations, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Collar can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, dating back to 1273. This document mentions a person named William le Colier, which suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone involved in the coal or charcoal trade.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Colyer, Collier, and Colyar, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301 listed a Robert le Colier, while the Poll Tax returns of 1379 mentioned a John Collier in Cambridgeshire.

The Collar surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded is John Collar, a merchant from London who was involved in the English wool trade during the 15th century. In the 16th century, Richard Collar (c. 1500-1570) was a prominent English lawyer and member of the Middle Temple.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Collar (1782-1855), an English actor and playwright who performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane and the Haymarket Theatre. He was renowned for his comedic roles and wrote several successful plays, including "Honour Before Riches" and "The Law Student."

In the 19th century, John Collar (1812-1887) was a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of agricultural machinery. He patented several designs for threshing machines and reapers, which revolutionized farming practices at the time.

During the same period, George Collar (1847-1922) was a prominent Australian politician and businessman. He served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council and was involved in various commercial ventures, including mining and pastoral industries.

The Collar surname has also been associated with places, such as Collar Farm in Hertfordshire and Collar Hill in Cambridgeshire, further reinforcing its connection to the land and occupations related to agriculture and mining.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Collar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Collar 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. Kent leads with 82 Collars recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.

County Total Index
Kent 82 8.74x
Essex 64 11.79x
Middlesex 34 1.24x
Wiltshire 27 11.10x
Monmouthshire 13 6.54x
Berkshire 11 5.33x
Gloucestershire 10 1.85x
Hampshire 9 1.60x
Lancashire 7 0.21x
Yorkshire 6 0.22x
Glamorgan 5 1.04x
Somerset 4 0.90x
Surrey 4 0.30x
Leicestershire 2 0.66x
Suffolk 2 0.60x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Sussex 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitstable in Kent leads with 33 Collars recorded in 1881 and an index of 717.39x.

Place Total Index
Whitstable 33 717.39x
Little Yeldham 24 8888.89x
South Hinksey 10 1111.11x
Aldershot 9 47.64x
Folkestone 9 49.45x
Gestingthorpe 9 1475.41x
Draycot Cerne 8 5714.29x
Ridgwell 8 1290.32x
Finchingfield 7 411.76x
Bitton 6 127.66x
Greenwich 6 13.70x
Islington London 6 2.25x
Kensington London 6 3.92x
Minety 6 882.35x
St Clement Danes London 6 105.45x
Tilbury 6 2857.14x
Aberystruth 5 28.52x
Chatham 5 19.36x
Cliffe 5 235.85x
East Langdon Oxney 5 1612.90x
Westport St Mary 5 284.09x
Bedwellty 4 11.39x
Seasalter 4 336.13x
Sharow 4 1111.11x
Westwell 4 425.53x
Yatton Keynell 4 800.00x
Clifton 3 11.00x
East Newchurch 3 789.47x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 6.52x
North Meols 3 9.39x
St Marylebone London 3 2.04x
Stone In Dartford 3 124.48x
Belchamp Walter 2 344.83x
Bermondsey 2 2.44x
Buckland In Dover 2 64.31x
Christian Malford 2 270.27x
Claverton 2 833.33x
Feltham 2 72.73x
Glemsford 2 85.11x
Great Maplestead 2 540.54x
Lambeth 2 0.83x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.69x
Liverpool 2 1.01x
Pilkington 2 16.13x
Plumstead 2 6.39x
Shoreditch London 2 1.68x
Tottenham 2 4.57x
Westminster St John 2 5.97x
Ystradyfodwg 2 4.76x
Acton 1 6.20x
Bedminster 1 2.40x
Brentwood 1 30.21x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.54x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.38x
Earls Colne 1 66.67x
Eastry 1 76.92x
Great Yeldham 1 178.57x
Guston 1 270.27x
Hackney London 1 0.65x
Heath 1 294.12x
Horfield 1 18.42x
Isleworth 1 8.18x
Itton 1 666.67x
Old Windsor 1 41.84x
Potterne Marston 1 625.00x
Rayleigh 1 80.00x
Ripon 1 15.82x
Rotherfield 1 24.51x
Southcoates 1 6.61x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.06x
St Peters 1 23.04x
Stambourne 1 243.90x
Trowbridge 1 9.30x
Walcot 1 4.24x
Wethersfield 1 72.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 20
George 8
Thomas 8
Henry 7
James 6
Walter 6
Harry 5
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Josiah 2
Mark 2
Richard 2
Alexander 1
Amos 1
Archibald 1
Bill 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Hubert 1
Jesse 1
Jim 1
Joe 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Luther 1
R. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Silas 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Collar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Collar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 282 people were recorded with the Collar surname. That placed it at #10,148 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Collar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 310 in 2016. That gives Collar a modern rank of #14,406.

What does the Collar surname mean?

A surname potentially referring to a maker or seller of collars.

What does the Collar map show?

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