NameCensus.

UK surname

Colledge

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "college", referring to someone associated with a college or school.

In the 1881 census there were 764 people recorded with the Colledge surname, ranking it #4,835 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,447, ranked #4,244, up from #4,835 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rugby, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Brinklow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Rugby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colledge is 1,530 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.4%.

1881 census count

764

Ranked #4,835

Modern count

1,447

2016, ranked #4,244

Peak year

2002

1,530 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colledge had 764 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,835 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,447 in 2016, ranked #4,244.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,258 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Colledge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colledge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colledge 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 483 #5,157
1861 historical 498 #5,253
1881 historical 764 #4,835
1891 historical 819 #4,943
1901 historical 1,165 #4,194
1911 historical 1,258 #3,778
1997 modern 1,478 #3,957
1998 modern 1,502 #4,041
1999 modern 1,510 #4,054
2000 modern 1,509 #4,040
2001 modern 1,492 #3,999
2002 modern 1,530 #4,001
2003 modern 1,504 #3,989
2004 modern 1,480 #4,051
2005 modern 1,434 #4,113
2006 modern 1,424 #4,138
2007 modern 1,428 #4,167
2008 modern 1,418 #4,218
2009 modern 1,451 #4,224
2010 modern 1,483 #4,224
2011 modern 1,482 #4,190
2012 modern 1,438 #4,215
2013 modern 1,457 #4,233
2014 modern 1,468 #4,242
2015 modern 1,448 #4,249
2016 modern 1,447 #4,244

Geography

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Where Colledges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rugby, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Brinklow, Bedworth and Foleshill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Rugby. 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 Rugby Warwickshire
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Brinklow Warwickshire
4 Bedworth Warwickshire
5 Foleshill Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 027 County Durham
2 County Durham 008 County Durham
3 Rugby 011 Rugby
4 Rugby 005 Rugby
5 Rugby 007 Rugby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colledge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colledge

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Colledge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Colledge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Colledge 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

Colledge is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colledge falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Colledge

The surname Colledge is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "collège," which means "college" or "community of scholars." It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century, when universities and educational institutions were first established in England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Colledge can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dating back to 1327, where a person named John Colledge is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 15th century, the surname Colledge appeared in various records, such as the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1443, where a Thomas Colledge is mentioned. This indicates that the name had spread to different parts of the country.

The surname Colledge is also closely associated with places where colleges or educational institutions were located. For instance, in the 16th century, there were references to a John Colledge from Cambridge, which was home to the renowned University of Cambridge.

One notable figure with the surname Colledge was Stephen Colledge (1535-1603), an English theologian and academic who served as the President of Trinity College, Oxford. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the Elizabethan era.

Another historical figure was Thomas Colledge (1668-1736), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Principal of Hertford College, Oxford. He was also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1727 to 1731.

In the 18th century, the surname Colledge was found in various parish records and court documents across England. One example is William Colledge (1711-1786), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

The 19th century saw the emergence of notable individuals with the surname Colledge, such as William Henry Colledge (1826-1902), an English author and journalist who wrote extensively on historical and literary topics.

During the Victorian era, James Colledge (1843-1913) was a prominent English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Throughout its history, the surname Colledge has been associated with education, academia, and intellectual pursuits, reflecting its roots in the word "college." While the spelling may have varied slightly over time, the name has maintained its connection to the concept of learning and scholarly communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colledge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colledge 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 263 Colledges recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.01x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 263 14.01x
Yorkshire 76 1.03x
Durham 72 3.25x
Derbyshire 61 5.24x
Essex 43 2.93x
Leicestershire 42 5.09x
Middlesex 34 0.46x
Northumberland 28 2.53x
Staffordshire 27 1.07x
Kent 19 0.75x
Worcestershire 17 1.75x
Selkirkshire 16 23.76x
Nottinghamshire 13 1.30x
Lancashire 12 0.14x
Surrey 7 0.19x
Northamptonshire 5 0.71x
Shropshire 5 0.78x
Cheshire 4 0.24x
Lanarkshire 4 0.17x
Renfrewshire 4 0.69x
Gloucestershire 3 0.21x
Devon 2 0.13x
Berwickshire 1 1.11x
Glamorgan 1 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.68x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Somerset 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brinklow in Warwickshire leads with 35 Colledges recorded in 1881 and an index of 1750.00x.

Place Total Index
Brinklow 35 1750.00x
Bedworth 33 240.88x
Foleshill 24 121.52x
West Ham 24 7.40x
Long Lawford 21 1200.00x
Birmingham 20 3.20x
Brightside Bierlow 20 13.83x
Aston 17 3.29x
Warwick St Nicholas 16 116.19x
Leamington Priors 15 32.48x
Harborne 14 17.39x
Hillmorton 12 358.21x
Horton In Bradford 11 9.55x
Maldon St Peter 11 146.86x
Deptford St Paul 10 5.11x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 10.43x
Sowe 10 295.86x
Wolston Marston 10 709.22x
Alfreton 9 25.42x
Chirton 9 35.91x
Kirkby In Ashfield 9 83.88x
Marske In Guisbrough 9 68.70x
Rugeley 9 49.92x
Selkirk 9 47.44x
Tonbridge 9 9.83x
Aylestone 8 122.89x
Chigwell 8 57.68x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 14.28x
Derby St Werburgh 8 11.89x
Haswell 8 50.41x
Horsley 8 114.12x
Kidderminster Foreign 8 58.22x
Shadforth 8 186.05x
Thornton In Bradford 8 32.59x
Tynemouth 8 13.49x
Wessington 8 512.82x
Bilton 7 161.66x
Clerkenwell London 7 3.98x
Dawdon 7 25.71x
Doncaster 7 12.99x
East Murton 7 168.67x
Galashiels 7 28.12x
Gateshead 7 4.22x
St Pancras London 7 1.17x
Stranton 7 9.39x
Tutnall Cobley 7 551.18x
Westoe 7 5.58x
Crich 6 78.95x
Hinckley 6 30.66x
Hindley 6 15.93x
Houghton Le Spring 6 39.19x
Leicester All Sts 6 37.01x
Cowpen 5 19.61x
Enderby 5 117.10x
Leicester St Mary 5 7.50x
Nuneaton 5 23.00x
Ovenden 5 15.23x
Shoreditch London 5 1.55x
Stoneleigh 5 160.26x
Whitherley 5 378.79x
Wrockwardine 5 35.36x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 5.82x
Brackenfield 4 487.80x
Claylane 4 24.69x
Coventry St Michael 4 6.63x
Eastwood 4 11.26x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 2.67x
Govan 4 0.67x
Greasbrough 4 41.07x
Habergham Eaves 4 4.96x
Hackney London 4 0.96x
Lambeth 4 0.62x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 11.23x
Rugby 4 15.75x
Southwick 4 19.07x
Warwick St Mary 4 24.54x
Acton 3 6.88x
Belper 3 13.28x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.16x
Wirksworth 3 28.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 58
Thomas 40
John 38
Charles 25
George 25
James 19
Henry 16
Arthur 13
Alfred 12
Joseph 12
Albert 7
Edward 7
Robert 7
Walter 7
Samuel 5
Frederick 4
Tom 4
David 3
Elijah 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Levi 3
Richard 3
Robt. 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fred. 2
Isaiah 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Ben 1
Earnest 1
Fredk 1
Frith 1
Geo.A. 1
Geo.L. 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Lesley 1
Mathew 1
Nathaniel 1
Nathienal 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Colledge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colledge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 764 people were recorded with the Colledge surname. That placed it at #4,835 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colledge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,447 in 2016. That gives Colledge a modern rank of #4,244.

What does the Colledge surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "college", referring to someone associated with a college or school.

What does the Colledge map show?

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