UK surname
An Old French surname derived from "colline" meaning hill or hillock.
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Colles surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colles is 183 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.9%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
183 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Colles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Colles surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 76 | #20,127 |
| 1861 | historical | 183 | #12,903 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 160 | #17,555 |
| 1901 | historical | 86 | #24,508 |
| 1911 | historical | 104 | #22,209 |
| 1997 | modern | 39 | #33,759 |
| 1998 | modern | 40 | #33,856 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 43 | #33,709 |
| 2001 | modern | 38 | #34,004 |
| 2002 | modern | 43 | #33,871 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 35 | #34,982 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 36 | #35,496 |
| 2010 | modern | 36 | #35,620 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto, Manchester, Whitkirk and Cheadle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto | Oxfordshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Whitkirk | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Cheadle | Cheshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Colles surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Colles, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Colles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Colles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Colles is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Colles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Colles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Colles has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "coll," which means "a summit" or "a hill." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near or on a hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Coll" and "Colle." This indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as "Colle," "Colles," and "Collis." These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.
The name Colles can also be traced back to place names in England, such as Colles in Somerset and Colles in Norfolk. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname from these locations.
One notable figure with the surname Colles was Abraham Colles (1773-1843), an Irish surgeon and anatomist best known for describing the Colles' fracture, a type of broken wrist. He made significant contributions to the field of medicine and is remembered for his work at Dr. Steevens' Hospital in Dublin.
Another individual of historical significance was Christopher Colles (1737-1816), an Irish-born American mathematician and surveyor. He is credited with introducing the decimal system of measurement to the United States and played a crucial role in the early development of American mathematics education.
In the 16th century, John Colles (1508-1568) was a prominent English priest and Catholic martyr who was executed during the Reformation under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for denying the supremacy of the Church of England.
The name Colles can also be found in literary works, such as in the writings of the English poet and dramatist John Dryden (1631-1700), who mentioned a character named Colles in one of his plays.
Another notable figure was Christopher Colles (1688-1759), an English philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on metaphysics and ethics. His works were influential in shaping philosophical discourse during the Age of Enlightenment.
While the surname Colles has roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Ireland, the United States, and other English-speaking countries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colles surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 12 Colles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 12 | 2.51x |
| Cheshire | 11 | 10.43x |
| Surrey | 11 | 4.72x |
| Shropshire | 6 | 14.53x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 4.08x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 5.66x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 4.04x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 2.89x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheadle in Cheshire leads with 11 Colles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 544.55x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheadle | 11 | 544.55x |
| Camberwell | 7 | 22.93x |
| Bridgnorth St Leonard | 6 | 1276.60x |
| St Martin In Fields | 6 | 209.79x |
| Clapham | 4 | 67.00x |
| Melton Mowbray | 3 | 315.79x |
| Hampstead London | 2 | 26.88x |
| Portsea | 2 | 10.42x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 5.20x |
| Christchurch | 1 | 93.46x |
| East Meon | 1 | 384.62x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.73x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 8.50x |
| Shefford | 1 | 555.56x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 16.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Colles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Colles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Colles households.
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Colles surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Colles a modern rank of #36,254.
An Old French surname derived from "colline" meaning hill or hillock.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Colles bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.