NameCensus.

UK surname

Collen

A surname derived from a medieval name meaning "pupil" or "novice".

In the 1881 census there were 280 people recorded with the Collen surname, ranking it #10,202 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 420, ranked #11,414, down from #10,202 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Soham and Isleham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Forest Heath and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Collen is 657 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.0%.

1881 census count

280

Ranked #10,202

Modern count

420

2016, ranked #11,414

Peak year

1861

657 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Collen had 280 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,202 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016, ranked #11,414.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 657 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Collen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Collen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Collen 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 256 #8,629
1861 historical 657 #4,081
1881 historical 280 #10,202
1891 historical 455 #8,009
1901 historical 387 #9,698
1911 historical 543 #7,365
1997 modern 454 #10,004
1998 modern 475 #9,982
1999 modern 468 #10,160
2000 modern 475 #10,016
2001 modern 452 #10,192
2002 modern 439 #10,656
2003 modern 446 #10,361
2004 modern 464 #10,060
2005 modern 449 #10,230
2006 modern 442 #10,388
2007 modern 435 #10,613
2008 modern 437 #10,694
2009 modern 445 #10,780
2010 modern 436 #11,189
2011 modern 414 #11,533
2012 modern 431 #11,047
2013 modern 429 #11,280
2014 modern 438 #11,149
2015 modern 433 #11,162
2016 modern 420 #11,414

Geography

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Where Collens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Soham, Isleham, Keighley and Bradwell-near-the-Sea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Forest Heath, Waveney and St Edmundsbury. 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 3
2 Soham Cambridgeshire
3 Isleham Cambridgeshire
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradwell-near-the-Sea Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 East Cambridgeshire 007 East Cambridgeshire
3 Forest Heath 006 Forest Heath
4 Waveney 012 Waveney
5 St Edmundsbury 014 St Edmundsbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Collen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Collen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Collen, 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 Collen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Collen 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Collen 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

Collen 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

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

Meaning and origin of Collen

The surname Collen has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from an Old English word "col," meaning "coal" or "charcoal." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname, initially referring to someone who worked with coal or charcoal, such as a charcoal burner or a blacksmith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Collen can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources conducted in 1086 on the orders of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a person named "Colen" residing in the county of Oxfordshire.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings, including Collan, Collin, and Collen. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal preferences during the Middle Ages.

In the 14th century, records show a John Collen from Gloucestershire, who was a prominent landowner and benefactor of the local church. Another notable figure was Richard Collen, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century and was involved in the thriving wool trade of the time.

The Collen surname also has ties to place names, such as Coln Rogers and Coln St. Aldwyn, two villages in Gloucestershire. These place names may have contributed to the surname's development or been derived from it.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Collen surname throughout history are:

1. John Collen (c. 1460-1529), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford. 2. Samuel Collen (1675-1736), a British naval officer who served during the War of the Spanish Succession and later became an influential merchant in London. 3. Elizabeth Collen (1738-1811), a British writer and educator known for her work on female education and her advocacy for women's rights. 4. William Collen (1810-1876), a Welsh musician and composer who contributed significantly to the preservation of traditional Welsh music. 5. John Collen (1886-1968), a British artist and illustrator renowned for his book illustrations and etchings of rural landscapes.

While the name Collen has its roots in England and Wales, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Collen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Collen 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 140 Collens recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.64x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 140 80.64x
Middlesex 45 1.64x
Surrey 13 0.97x
Gloucestershire 11 2.05x
Yorkshire 11 0.40x
Suffolk 10 3.00x
Devon 9 1.58x
Essex 9 1.66x
Lancashire 7 0.22x
Wiltshire 7 2.89x
Norfolk 5 1.19x
Hampshire 4 0.71x
Durham 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 6.12x
Cornwall 1 0.32x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Glamorgan 1 0.21x
Kent 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.22x
Worcestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Isleham in Cambridgeshire leads with 54 Collens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3396.23x.

Place Total Index
Isleham 54 3396.23x
Soham 51 1363.64x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 15 198.15x
Littleport 11 331.33x
West Ham 9 7.53x
Westminster St John 8 23.97x
Chippenham 7 137.80x
Paddington London 7 6.95x
St George Hanover Square 7 14.49x
St James Dukes Place 7 1186.44x
Cheltenham 6 14.46x
Lambeth 6 2.51x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 13.65x
Brightside Bierlow 5 9.38x
Darsham 5 1219.51x
Stowmarket 5 129.53x
Thompson 5 1470.59x
Clapham 4 11.67x
Islington London 4 1.51x
Linthorpe 4 24.68x
Stetchworth 4 701.75x
Clifton 3 11.04x
Fordham 3 267.86x
Southampton St Mary 3 8.49x
Tormoham 3 12.43x
Limehouse London 2 6.65x
Oldham 2 1.91x
Royal Navy 2 7.16x
St Luke London 2 4.55x
St Marylebone London 2 1.37x
Warrington 2 5.19x
Aberdare 1 3.05x
Batley 1 3.87x
Bermondsey 1 1.23x
Bingley 1 5.78x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.87x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.98x
Camberwell 1 0.57x
Church Gresley 1 14.64x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.55x
Ealing 1 4.08x
Falmouth 1 9.11x
Hackney London 1 0.65x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 2.83x
Mepal 1 285.71x
Newton 1 3.99x
Portsea 1 0.91x
Preston 1 12.39x
Richmond 1 5.34x
St George In East London 1 3.88x
St Pancras London 1 0.45x
Stanhope 1 11.88x
Tonbridge 1 2.96x
Tottenham 1 2.29x
Westbury On Trym 1 5.49x
Widnes 1 4.26x
Witcham 1 277.78x
Worcester St Helen 1 87.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 9
Eliza 7
Jane 7
Ellen 6
Maria 5
Emily 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Alice 3
Amelia 3
Ann 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Emma 3
Agnes 2
Charlotte 2
Georgianna 2
Julia 2
Lillian 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Blanche 1
Christie 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Eliara 1
Elise 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Georgiana 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Honer 1
Isabella 1
Julietta 1
Kate 1
Kerenhappuch 1
Laura 1
Lettice 1
Margeretta 1
Marion 1
Matthew 1
Meriah 1
Norah 1
Zilpha 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Collen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Collen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 280 people were recorded with the Collen surname. That placed it at #10,202 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Collen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016. That gives Collen a modern rank of #11,414.

What does the Collen surname mean?

A surname derived from a medieval name meaning "pupil" or "novice".

What does the Collen map show?

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