Collens

The surname COLLENS has its origins in the English counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "col" meaning charcoal or coal, and "henn" meaning a woodland fowl or chicken. Thus, it may have initially referred to someone who lived near a charcoal burner's hut in a wooded area frequented by wild chickens.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record from 1273, where a Thomas Colen is listed as a resident of Derbyshire. The name also appears in various spelling variations such as Colen, Colens, and Collin in medieval tax rolls and parish records from the region.

In the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, a landowner named Colenus is mentioned as holding estates in Nottinghamshire, suggesting that the name may have originated from a Norman variant of the same root words.

Notable historical figures with the surname COLLENS include William Collens (1588-1673), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. John Collens (1625-1690) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus and celestial mechanics.

In the 16th century, a family of COLLENS owned lands in the village of Collington, near Bingham in Nottinghamshire. This place name likely derived from the surname, suggesting that the family had been established in the area for some time.

During the English Civil War, a soldier named Thomas Collens (1610-1691) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and later became a prominent merchant in London. His brother, Robert Collens (1615-1678), was a noted author and playwright whose works included the historical play "The Siege of Colchester."

Another prominent figure was Sarah Collens (1720-1792), a pioneering British businesswoman and industrialist who owned and operated several successful textile mills in Lancashire.