NameCensus.

UK surname

Collier

An occupational surname referring to someone who mined, sold, or transported coal.

In the 1881 census there were 10,022 people recorded with the Collier surname, ranking it #426 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13,322, ranked #484, down from #426 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Collier is 14,098 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.9%.

1881 census count

10,022

Ranked #426

Modern count

13,322

2016, ranked #484

Peak year

1999

14,098 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Collier had 10,022 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #426 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 13,322 in 2016, ranked #484.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13,086 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Collier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Collier surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Collier 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 6,177 #450
1861 historical 5,744 #474
1881 historical 10,022 #426
1891 historical 10,466 #421
1901 historical 12,345 #426
1911 historical 13,086 #372
1997 modern 13,424 #452
1998 modern 14,031 #450
1999 modern 14,098 #452
2000 modern 13,974 #453
2001 modern 13,689 #453
2002 modern 13,832 #457
2003 modern 13,558 #456
2004 modern 13,457 #458
2005 modern 13,186 #460
2006 modern 13,130 #464
2007 modern 13,140 #471
2008 modern 13,127 #474
2009 modern 13,433 #474
2010 modern 13,634 #477
2011 modern 13,452 #477
2012 modern 13,284 #475
2013 modern 13,574 #474
2014 modern 13,632 #477
2015 modern 13,427 #483
2016 modern 13,322 #484

Geography

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Where Colliers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eccles, Manchester and Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan and Swansea. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Leigh Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 017 Wigan
2 Swansea 029 Swansea
3 Wigan 034 Wigan
4 Wigan 030 Wigan
5 Wigan 031 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Collier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Collier

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Collier is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Collier is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Collier falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Collier

The surname Collier originated in medieval England, derived from the Old French word "collier," meaning a coal miner or seller of coal. The name first appeared in records in the 12th century, reflecting the growing importance of the coal industry during that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Collier surname was found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199, where a Robert le Collier was mentioned. The name also appeared in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record that listed landowners in various counties across England.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Colliers were most prominent in the coal-mining regions of Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire. The name was often associated with specific locations, such as Collier's Wood in Nottinghamshire and Collier Street in Kent.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain the Collier surname directly. However, it does mention several places with names related to coal mining, such as Colne in Lancashire and Coaley in Gloucestershire, which may have been the origins of some Collier families.

One of the earliest known Colliers of note was Sir Robert Collier (c. 1305-1368), a member of the English Parliament and a landowner in Nottinghamshire. Another prominent Collier was John Collier (c. 1492-1537), a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the reign of King Henry VIII.

In the 16th century, the Collier surname spread across England, with families establishing themselves in various regions, including London, where a John Collier (c. 1550-1622) became a successful merchant and alderman.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several Colliers made significant contributions to various fields. These included Giles Collier (1622-1668), a renowned theological writer, and Arthur Collier (1680-1732), a philosopher and metaphysician.

In the 19th century, notable Colliers included John Collier (1789-1879), a British writer and critic, and John Payne Collier (1789-1883), a Shakespeare scholar and literary forger whose controversial work sparked debates about literary authenticity.

Throughout its history, the Collier surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, writers, politicians, and academics, reflecting the diverse occupations and roles of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Collier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Collier 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 2,354 Colliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.03x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,354 2.03x
Middlesex 1,184 1.21x
Yorkshire 850 0.88x
Surrey 548 1.15x
Staffordshire 451 1.37x
Cheshire 415 1.93x
Derbyshire 303 1.98x
Devon 264 1.30x
Gloucestershire 262 1.37x
Wiltshire 260 3.01x
Warwickshire 206 0.84x
Kent 205 0.62x
Essex 175 0.91x
Glamorgan 172 1.01x
Somerset 170 1.08x
Northamptonshire 155 1.69x
Durham 152 0.52x
Buckinghamshire 144 2.44x
Berkshire 126 1.72x
Oxfordshire 126 2.09x
Leicestershire 124 1.15x
Monmouthshire 118 1.67x
Hertfordshire 115 1.71x
Hampshire 114 0.57x
Sussex 88 0.53x
Northumberland 84 0.58x
Worcestershire 74 0.58x
Fife 73 1.26x
Dorset 67 1.05x
Shropshire 60 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 57 0.92x
Midlothian 51 0.39x
Angus 40 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 38 0.29x
Herefordshire 36 0.90x
Cornwall 31 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 29 0.32x
Bedfordshire 29 0.57x
Lanarkshire 29 0.09x
Peeblesshire 27 5.88x
Norfolk 26 0.17x
Kinross-shire 24 9.72x
Lincolnshire 22 0.14x
Suffolk 14 0.12x
Perthshire 12 0.27x
Selkirkshire 11 1.25x
Flintshire 9 0.34x
Isle of Man 9 0.50x
Royal Navy 9 0.77x
Cumberland 8 0.10x
Stirlingshire 8 0.22x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.17x
Inverness-shire 6 0.21x
Huntingdonshire 5 0.26x
Westmorland 5 0.23x
Argyllshire 4 0.15x
Rutland 4 0.56x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.14x
East Lothian 3 0.23x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.21x
Anglesey 2 0.12x
Channel Islands 2 0.07x
Sutherland 2 0.27x
Denbighshire 1 0.03x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 0.06x
Renfrewshire 1 0.01x
Ross-shire 1 0.04x
Wigtownshire 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. Worsley in Lancashire leads with 129 Colliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.06x.

Place Total Index
Worsley 129 18.06x
Bethnal Green London 126 2.97x
Islington London 116 1.23x
Manchester 107 2.05x
St Pancras London 106 1.35x
Westbury 94 46.64x
Wigan 90 5.56x
Farnworth 84 12.10x
Great Bolton 84 5.47x
Hackney London 82 1.50x
Lambeth 82 0.96x
Salford 79 2.32x
Oldham 78 2.09x
Glossop Dale 75 10.48x
Bedford 74 30.53x
Camberwell 74 1.19x
Pennington In Leigh 70 31.49x
Ashton Under Lyne 69 2.72x
Little Bolton 67 4.50x
Aston 64 0.94x
Westoe 61 3.70x
Birmingham 60 0.73x
Kensington London 59 1.09x
Bermondsey 55 1.89x
Hindley 55 11.13x
Holy Trinity 55 2.36x
Chelsea London 50 1.70x
Shoreditch London 49 1.16x
Hulme 46 1.90x
Aspull 45 16.51x
Atherton 44 10.43x
Battersea 41 1.14x
Bromley London 41 1.91x
Liverpool 41 0.58x
Wroughton 40 53.48x
Leeds 39 0.71x
Newington 38 1.05x
Gorton 37 3.40x
Wycombe 37 8.41x
Ardwick 36 3.44x
Reading St Mary 36 6.13x
Stoke Upon Trent 36 1.03x
West Ham 36 0.85x
Fulham London 35 2.47x
Pendleton In Salford 35 2.54x
Stockport 35 3.16x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 34 1.89x
Poplar London 34 1.84x
Wandsworth 34 3.62x
Castleton 33 2.85x
Ince In Makerfield 33 6.12x
Ystradyfodwg 33 2.21x
Blackrod 32 22.22x
Plymouth Charles The 32 3.57x
Taxal 32 305.93x
Macclesfield 31 3.24x
Paddington London 31 0.86x
North Meols 30 2.65x
Bingley 29 4.71x
Flixton 29 48.85x
Beckenham 28 6.43x
Ecclesall Bierlow 28 1.42x
Harborne 28 2.65x
Monks Coppenhall 28 3.44x
Repton 28 48.45x
Broadwater 27 7.15x
Church Gresley 27 11.10x
Elswick 27 2.33x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 27 8.09x
Soothill 26 7.44x
Stapenhill 26 11.43x
Heaton Norris 25 3.79x
St George Hanover Square 25 1.45x
St Marylebone London 25 0.48x
Broughton In Salford 24 2.27x
Walsall Foreign 24 1.41x
Clapham 23 1.88x
Leicester St Margaret 23 0.87x
Plymstock 23 21.61x
Witney 23 22.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 673
Elizabeth 384
Sarah 341
Ann 251
Jane 182
Alice 180
Eliza 154
Ellen 149
Emma 140
Annie 123
Margaret 114
Emily 113
Hannah 111
Martha 105
Louisa 72
Maria 61
Fanny 58
Clara 52
Florence 52
Edith 50
Charlotte 49
Catherine 48
Caroline 47
Harriet 46
Kate 40
Ada 36
Agnes 34
Frances 34
Lucy 33
Susan 31
Amelia 29
Anne 29
Esther 27
Elizth. 23
Rebecca 23
Amy 22
Gertrude 22
Harriett 22
Rose 22
Julia 21
Susannah 20
Ethel 19
Isabella 19
Beatrice 18
Minnie 17
Nancy 17
Ruth 17
Betsy 16
Matilda 16
Rachel 16

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 614
John 577
James 371
Thomas 322
George 309
Henry 226
Joseph 208
Charles 192
Alfred 121
Robert 119
Edward 107
Samuel 103
Frederick 83
Arthur 77
Richard 75
Walter 65
Albert 56
Edwin 53
David 40
Herbert 40
Frank 38
Harry 35
Wm. 30
Benjamin 27
Francis 27
Peter 27
Thos. 26
Ernest 21
Fred 16
Daniel 14
Stephen 14
Isaac 13
Sidney 13
Tom 13
Matthew 12
Aaron 11
Abraham 11
Chas. 10
Jno. 10
Ralph 10
Edmund 9
Job 9
Saml. 9
Eli 8
Fredk. 8
Geo. 8
Jesse 8
Mathew 8
Alexander 7
Fredrick 7

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 Collier households.

FAQ

Collier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Collier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,022 people were recorded with the Collier surname. That placed it at #426 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Collier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 13,322 in 2016. That gives Collier a modern rank of #484.

What does the Collier surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who mined, sold, or transported coal.

What does the Collier map show?

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