NameCensus.

UK surname

Collin

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname "Ó Coileáin," meaning "descendant of Coileán" (a hound or whelp).

In the 1881 census there were 1,559 people recorded with the Collin surname, ranking it #2,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,869, ranked #3,406, down from #2,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eyemouth, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eyemouth, East Cambridgeshire and Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Collin is 2,463 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.9%.

1881 census count

1,559

Ranked #2,709

Modern count

1,869

2016, ranked #3,406

Peak year

1861

2,463 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Collin had 1,559 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,869 in 2016, ranked #3,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,463 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Collin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Collin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Collin 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 1,381 #2,076
1861 historical 2,463 #1,185
1881 historical 1,559 #2,709
1891 historical 2,413 #1,945
1901 historical 1,786 #2,927
1911 historical 2,234 #2,262
1997 modern 1,752 #3,410
1998 modern 1,859 #3,365
1999 modern 1,866 #3,373
2000 modern 1,831 #3,411
2001 modern 1,736 #3,502
2002 modern 1,771 #3,518
2003 modern 1,726 #3,537
2004 modern 1,717 #3,546
2005 modern 1,685 #3,566
2006 modern 1,653 #3,633
2007 modern 1,685 #3,600
2008 modern 1,691 #3,615
2009 modern 1,721 #3,628
2010 modern 1,787 #3,593
2011 modern 1,801 #3,530
2012 modern 1,821 #3,444
2013 modern 1,843 #3,465
2014 modern 1,864 #3,452
2015 modern 1,855 #3,437
2016 modern 1,869 #3,406

Geography

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Where Collins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eyemouth, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eyemouth, East Cambridgeshire, Hartlepool and North Kesteven. 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 Eyemouth Berwick
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eyemouth Scottish Borders
2 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
3 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool
4 North Kesteven 010 North Kesteven
5 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Collin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Collin

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Collin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Collin is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Collin falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Collin

The surname COLLIN is of French origin, derived from the Latin name "Colinus" which means "little dove" or "young dove." It first emerged in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in France during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname COLLIN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The name was spelled as "Collin" in this record.

During the 12th century, the name COLLIN spread throughout France and into neighboring regions. It is believed that some individuals with this surname may have been associated with the cultivation or breeding of doves, as the name's meaning suggests.

One notable person with the surname COLLIN was Richard COLLIN (c. 1300-1370), a French poet and writer who lived during the Late Medieval period. He is known for his works on courtly love and chivalry.

In the 16th century, the surname COLLIN began appearing in various spellings, such as "Collyn," "Collin," and "Colyn," in records from England and Scotland. This was likely due to the migration of French and Norman families to these regions.

A famous bearer of the name COLLIN was David COLLIN (1598-1664), a Scottish minister and scholar who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh in the mid-17th century.

The COLLIN surname also has roots in Ireland, where it derived from the Gaelic name "O'Coluin," meaning "descendant of the young dove." One notable Irish figure with this surname was Philip COLLIN (1786-1844), a lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Irish House of Commons.

In the United States, the COLLIN surname can be traced back to early French and English settlers who arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries. One notable American with this surname was Samuel COLLIN (1801-1876), a lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Throughout history, the surname COLLIN has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from poets and scholars to lawyers and politicians. Its French and Latin origins, along with its connection to doves, have given it a distinct cultural and linguistic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Collin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Collin 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 209 Collins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 209 1.16x
Berwickshire 187 101.48x
Durham 160 3.53x
Middlesex 131 0.86x
Yorkshire 99 0.66x
Essex 88 2.93x
Lincolnshire 82 3.37x
Leicestershire 69 4.09x
Northumberland 63 2.78x
Cambridgeshire 52 5.40x
Surrey 52 0.70x
Cumberland 46 3.51x
Nottinghamshire 29 1.41x
Buckinghamshire 24 2.61x
Northamptonshire 24 1.68x
Cheshire 21 0.63x
Devon 21 0.66x
Kent 19 0.37x
Sussex 19 0.74x
Westmorland 15 4.49x
Derbyshire 13 0.55x
Staffordshire 13 0.25x
Glamorgan 11 0.42x
Hampshire 10 0.32x
Hertfordshire 10 0.95x
Oxfordshire 10 1.06x
Warwickshire 9 0.23x
Lanarkshire 8 0.16x
Rutland 7 6.27x
Dunbartonshire 6 1.47x
Gloucestershire 6 0.20x
Midlothian 6 0.29x
Worcestershire 5 0.25x
Dumfriesshire 4 1.19x
Berkshire 3 0.26x
Dorset 3 0.30x
Suffolk 3 0.16x
Wigtownshire 3 1.48x
Cornwall 2 0.12x
Fife 2 0.22x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.91x
Monmouthshire 2 0.18x
Somerset 2 0.08x
Angus 1 0.07x
Bedfordshire 1 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.16x
Channel Islands 1 0.22x
Herefordshire 1 0.16x
Kincardineshire 1 0.54x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 0.55x
Wiltshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eyemouth in Berwickshire leads with 179 Collins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1163.85x.

Place Total Index
Eyemouth 179 1163.85x
Oldham 38 6.52x
West Derby 28 5.30x
Walton On Hill 25 25.56x
Benwell 24 96.97x
Leicester St Margaret 22 5.35x
Westbury 22 1013.82x
Chadderton 19 21.52x
Gateshead 19 5.61x
Kensington London 19 2.25x
Islington London 16 1.08x
Claypole 15 424.93x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 15 7.65x
Kirtling 15 350.47x
Spittlegate 15 44.56x
Brightside Bierlow 14 4.73x
Warrington 14 6.54x
Bradwell 13 252.43x
Great Easton 13 318.63x
Leicester All Sts 13 39.24x
Leicester Castle View 13 1625.00x
Westminster St Margaret 12 16.35x
Westoe 12 4.68x
Bishopwearmouth 11 2.83x
Worksop 11 18.08x
Dry Doddington 10 854.70x
Elswick 10 5.53x
Lavington 10 1190.48x
Mixbury 10 704.23x
Nottingham St Mary 10 1.88x
Seaton Delaval 10 50.30x
Skeeby 10 1204.82x
Teddington London 10 29.00x
Toxteth Park 10 1.64x
Arrington 9 708.66x
Cliburn 9 620.69x
Crook Billy Row 9 15.52x
Everton 9 1.56x
Newington 9 1.60x
Southwick 9 20.99x
St Cuthbert W O 9 14.09x
Thaxted 9 90.27x
Brancepeth 8 97.21x
Easton 8 155.04x
Hampstead London 8 3.38x
Helmington Row 8 37.93x
Prestwich 8 17.76x
Rempstone 8 487.80x
Sileby 8 75.19x
Southwick 8 58.95x
St Pancras London 8 0.65x
Tranmere 8 6.48x
Aberdare 7 3.85x
Dewsbury 7 4.53x
Great Bentley 7 146.75x
Hammersmith London 7 1.87x
Linthrope 7 245.61x
Liverpool 7 0.64x
Ottery St Mary 7 33.69x
Shipley 7 8.95x
Shotley High Quarter 7 457.52x
Westleigh 7 17.07x
Barnes 6 19.13x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 4.41x
Bonhill 6 9.14x
Claughton With Grange 6 39.22x
Croydon 6 1.46x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 6 66.08x
Gorton 6 3.53x
Grantham 6 18.92x
Hackney London 6 0.70x
Kingston On Thames 6 3.37x
Kirkbampton 6 273.97x
Lewisham 6 2.17x
St George Hanover Square 6 2.24x
Stansted Mountfitchet 6 79.05x
Sunderland 6 7.50x
Thornley 6 36.63x
Unstone 6 64.03x
Walkern 6 136.05x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 107
William 81
Thomas 55
George 46
James 46
Joseph 34
Henry 29
Charles 20
Robert 20
Alfred 16
Arthur 12
Richard 10
Daniel 9
Edward 9
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Harry 6
Michael 6
Benjamin 5
Ernest 5
Patrick 5
Albert 4
Matthew 4
Samuel 4
Tom 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Jno. 3
Philip 3
Amos 2
Emmerson 2
Fred 2
Hodgson 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Jeremiah 2
Mathew 2
Nathaniel 2
Nicholas 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Petre 2
Robinson 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Young 1

FAQ

Collin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Collin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,559 people were recorded with the Collin surname. That placed it at #2,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Collin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,869 in 2016. That gives Collin a modern rank of #3,406.

What does the Collin surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname "Ó Coileáin," meaning "descendant of Coileán" (a hound or whelp).

What does the Collin map show?

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