NameCensus.

UK surname

Collard

A surname derived from the Middle English word "col-yard," referring to a dweller by a coal yard or charcoal store.

In the 1881 census there were 1,818 people recorded with the Collard surname, ranking it #2,394 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,999, ranked #3,228, down from #2,394 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Powys and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Collard is 2,445 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.0%.

1881 census count

1,818

Ranked #2,394

Modern count

1,999

2016, ranked #3,228

Peak year

1911

2,445 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Collard had 1,818 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,394 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,999 in 2016, ranked #3,228.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,445 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Collard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Collard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Collard 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 1,306 #2,196
1861 historical 1,475 #1,920
1881 historical 1,818 #2,394
1891 historical 2,005 #2,296
1901 historical 2,339 #2,320
1911 historical 2,445 #2,097
1997 modern 2,212 #2,803
1998 modern 2,287 #2,822
1999 modern 2,257 #2,869
2000 modern 2,221 #2,900
2001 modern 2,144 #2,930
2002 modern 2,196 #2,926
2003 modern 2,150 #2,925
2004 modern 2,166 #2,910
2005 modern 2,110 #2,937
2006 modern 2,122 #2,923
2007 modern 2,109 #2,978
2008 modern 2,110 #2,990
2009 modern 2,122 #3,049
2010 modern 2,133 #3,101
2011 modern 2,086 #3,126
2012 modern 2,046 #3,128
2013 modern 2,070 #3,151
2014 modern 2,076 #3,161
2015 modern 2,031 #3,190
2016 modern 1,999 #3,228

Geography

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Where Collards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital and Wiveliscombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Powys, Taunton Deane and North Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Mary Northgate, St John's Hospital Kent
5 Wiveliscombe Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor
2 Powys 012 Powys
3 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane
4 North Somerset 018 North Somerset
5 Sedgemoor 010 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Collard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Collard

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Collard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Collard 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Collard 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

Collard is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Collard falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Collard

The surname Collard is believed to have originated in France, and it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "col," which means "cabbage" or "collard greens." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who grew or sold these vegetables.

The earliest recorded use of the name Collard can be found in a French census from the year 1185, where a family in the village of Vieux-Pont-sur-Meuse was listed as "les Collards." This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 13th century, the name Collard appeared in several medieval documents, including the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Longpont, where a certain "Robertus Collard" is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction in 1247.

During the 14th century, the name Collard began to spread throughout France, and it can be found in various records from different regions. For instance, in 1372, a "Jehan Collard" was listed as a resident of the town of Troyes in the Champagne region.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Collard was a French knight named Guillemin Collard, who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 15th century. He was born around 1410 and is believed to have died in battle sometime between 1450 and 1460.

In the 16th century, the name Collard became more widespread across Europe, particularly in regions with strong French cultural influences. One notable individual from this period was Jean Collard, a French philosopher and theologian who lived from 1522 to 1584.

Another prominent figure with the surname Collard was Philbert Collard, a French architect and engineer who lived from 1637 to 1704. He is best known for his work on the construction of the Château de Versailles and the Palace of Fontainebleau.

As the centuries passed, the Collard name continued to spread throughout France and other parts of Europe, with many individuals bearing this surname making notable contributions in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Collard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Collard 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 434 Collards recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.16x.

County Total Index
Kent 434 7.16x
Somerset 351 12.27x
Middlesex 342 1.92x
Essex 114 3.25x
Surrey 106 1.22x
Devon 95 2.57x
Derbyshire 54 1.94x
Lancashire 50 0.24x
Gloucestershire 43 1.23x
Glamorgan 38 1.23x
Monmouthshire 38 2.96x
Sussex 24 0.80x
Hampshire 22 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.42x
Warwickshire 10 0.22x
Cheshire 9 0.23x
Dorset 9 0.77x
Oxfordshire 8 0.73x
Staffordshire 8 0.13x
Herefordshire 7 0.96x
Wiltshire 7 0.45x
Worcestershire 6 0.26x
Northumberland 5 0.19x
Suffolk 5 0.23x
Cornwall 4 0.20x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.40x
Lincolnshire 3 0.11x
Radnorshire 3 2.09x
Royal Navy 3 1.42x
Yorkshire 3 0.02x
Cumberland 2 0.13x
Durham 2 0.04x
Argyllshire 1 0.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Norfolk 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. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 63 Collards recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.66x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 63 3.66x
North Petherton 53 229.64x
Hackney London 30 3.01x
St Marylebone London 30 3.16x
Ramsgate 25 25.26x
Wiveliscombe 25 156.74x
Herne 24 89.39x
Weston Super Mare 24 33.22x
Battersea 23 3.52x
Taunton St James 23 55.13x
Chartham 22 145.60x
Derby St Werburgh 22 13.69x
St Pancras London 21 1.47x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 20 6.09x
Chelsea London 20 3.73x
Alkham 19 542.86x
Henstridge 18 227.85x
St George Hanover Square 18 5.75x
Dagenham 17 81.42x
Hoath 17 825.24x
Whitchurch 16 95.58x
Camberwell 15 1.32x
Lambeth 15 0.97x
Monkton 15 663.72x
West Ham 15 1.94x
Canterbury St Paul 14 128.68x
Enmore 14 809.25x
Kensington London 14 1.42x
Nackington 14 1917.81x
Poplar London 14 4.17x
St Peters 14 49.91x
White Notley 14 500.00x
Crewkerne 13 42.79x
Hammersmith London 13 2.97x
Litchurch 13 11.61x
Stodmarsh 13 1585.37x
Cheriton 12 48.54x
Newport 12 19.58x
Paddington London 12 1.84x
Beer Crocombe 11 1325.30x
Canterbury St Margaret 11 335.37x
Stone In Faversham 11 2750.00x
West Buckland 11 200.00x
Clerkenwell London 10 2.38x
Exeter St Sidwell 10 11.80x
Hillingdon 10 17.65x
Kingston On Thames 10 4.81x
Leyton Low 10 14.02x
Newington 10 1.52x
Nottingham St Mary 10 1.61x
Ashford 9 15.24x
Aveley 9 152.28x
Birkenhead 9 2.88x
Canterbury St Mildred 9 62.54x
Ealing 9 5.67x
Harrow On The Hill 9 25.35x
Strood 9 26.02x
Templeton 9 937.50x
Clevedon 8 26.89x
Croydon 8 1.66x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.71x
Duffield 8 36.48x
Frant 8 37.68x
Hindley 8 8.90x
Lydeard St Lawrence 8 249.22x
Maidstone 8 4.43x
Manchester 8 0.84x
Minster In Sheppey 8 7.96x
Minster In Thanet 8 63.39x
Preston Next Wingham 8 293.04x
Stogursey 8 104.17x
Stoke Newington London 8 5.78x
Stourmouth 8 410.26x
Tormoham 8 5.11x
Tottenham 8 2.83x
Westbury 8 219.78x
Yeovil 8 13.76x
Halberton 7 81.21x
Milborne Port 7 61.14x
Tavistock 7 16.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 122
Elizabeth 58
Sarah 41
Ellen 38
Jane 35
Alice 33
Emma 31
Eliza 27
Ann 26
Annie 26
Louisa 24
Emily 22
Kate 17
Florence 16
Margaret 15
Caroline 14
Charlotte 14
Harriet 14
Fanny 11
Ada 9
Edith 9
Jessie 9
Maria 9
Clara 8
Hannah 8
Mabel 8
Susan 8
Elizth. 7
Ethel 7
Julia 7
Laura 7
Martha 7
Rosa 7
Agnes 6
Anne 6
Bertha 6
Catherine 6
Constance 6
Frances 6
Grace 6
Beatrice 5
Katherine 5
Matilda 5
Maud 5
Amy 4
Anna 4
Bessie 4
Eleanor 4
Lily 4
Rebecca 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 109
John 73
Henry 55
George 49
Charles 47
Thomas 40
Edward 35
Frederick 35
James 29
Alfred 25
Joseph 18
Arthur 17
Robert 16
Richard 15
Albert 14
Samuel 14
Frank 12
Herbert 11
Walter 11
Ernest 10
Edwin 9
Percy 9
Ambrose 7
David 7
Harry 7
Francis 6
Sidney 5
Stephen 5
Benjamin 4
Cecil 4
Clement 4
Earnest 4
Thos. 4
Daniel 3
Douglas 3
Edmund 3
Fredk. 3
Geo. 3
Isac 3
Reginald 3
Willm. 3
Dugald 2
E. 2
Edwd. 2
Jessie 2
Neville 2
Reuben 2
Saml. 2
Spencer 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Collard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Collard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,818 people were recorded with the Collard surname. That placed it at #2,394 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Collard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,999 in 2016. That gives Collard a modern rank of #3,228.

What does the Collard surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "col-yard," referring to a dweller by a coal yard or charcoal store.

What does the Collard map show?

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