NameCensus.

UK surname

Colleran

Irish surname meaning "man of the pond" or "pool-dweller".

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Colleran surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, up from #29,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Sefton and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colleran is 232 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 679.3%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

2010

232 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colleran had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 65 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Colleran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colleran surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colleran 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 #33,412
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 34 #31,604
1901 historical 65 #26,917
1911 historical 58 #27,001
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 189 #18,737
1999 modern 190 #18,797
2000 modern 184 #19,190
2001 modern 181 #19,106
2002 modern 193 #18,713
2003 modern 192 #18,568
2004 modern 198 #18,308
2005 modern 200 #18,144
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 215 #18,179
2010 modern 232 #17,657
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 220 #18,034
2013 modern 225 #18,027
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 222 #18,225
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Collerans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Sefton, Liverpool, West Lindsey and Bury. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 010 Kirklees
2 Sefton 027 Sefton
3 Liverpool 017 Liverpool
4 West Lindsey 002 West Lindsey
5 Bury 013 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colleran

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colleran

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Colleran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Colleran 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Colleran 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

Colleran is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colleran falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Colleran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Colleran

The surname Colleran is of Irish origin, originating in the counties of Leitrim and Sligo in the northwest of Ireland during the late medieval period. The name is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name 'O'Colrachain', which is derived from the word 'colradh', meaning 'bitter' or 'sour'.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Colleran can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a member of the Colleran family named Conor O'Colrachain, who was a prominent landowner in County Sligo in the 14th century.

Another notable historical figure with the surname Colleran was Tadhg O'Colrachain, a poet and scholar who lived in County Leitrim in the 16th century. He was renowned for his compositions in the Irish language and was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time.

In the 18th century, the Colleran family played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Patrick Colleran, born in 1765, was a prominent rebel leader in County Leitrim and was involved in several battles against the British forces.

During the 19th century, many Collerans emigrated from Ireland to other parts of the world, particularly to the United States and Australia. One notable Colleran from this period was Michael Colleran, born in County Sligo in 1832, who became a successful businessman and politician in Australia, serving as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Another notable figure with the surname Colleran was John Colleran, born in County Leitrim in 1870. He was a prominent Irish nationalist and played a significant role in the Gaelic Revival movement, which aimed to promote and preserve Irish culture and language.

The surname Colleran has a rich history rooted in the northwestern counties of Ireland, with various historical figures leaving their mark in areas such as literature, politics, and rebellion. While the name has spread across the world due to emigration, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era in the regions of Leitrim and Sligo.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colleran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colleran 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. Lancashire leads with 15 Collerans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.47x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 4.47x
Staffordshire 7 7.33x
Yorkshire 7 2.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wednesbury in Staffordshire leads with 7 Collerans recorded in 1881 and an index of 292.89x.

Place Total Index
Wednesbury 7 292.89x
Oldham 6 55.40x
Batley 5 187.97x
Ormskirk 5 781.25x
Heap 3 168.54x
Bradford 2 29.50x
Blackburn 1 11.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 4
Ellen 3
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Mary 2
Catherine 1
Cathrin 1
Elizabeth 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Marg. 1
Margaret 1
Monica 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Martin 2
Edward 1
Luke 1
Michael 1
Nicholas 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Colleran households.

FAQ

Colleran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colleran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Colleran surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colleran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Colleran a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Colleran surname mean?

Irish surname meaning "man of the pond" or "pool-dweller".

What does the Colleran map show?

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