Collingham

The surname Collingham originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 12th century. It is a locational name, derived from the village of Collingham in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. The name itself is believed to have originated from the Old English words "col" meaning charcoal and "inga" meaning people or tribe, referring to people who worked as charcoal burners or lived in an area where charcoal was produced.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Collingham can be found in the Feet of Fines records for Yorkshire from 1208, where a person named Robert de Colingham is mentioned. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also list a Richard de Collingham from Nottinghamshire. These early records indicate that the surname was already well-established in various parts of England by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Collingham appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a John de Collingham is mentioned in 1322. The name also appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, further solidifying its presence in the region.

The earliest known bearer of the Collingham surname was Sir John Collingham, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He held lands in Nottinghamshire and is recorded as participating in the Wars of Scottish Independence under King Edward I.

Another notable figure with the Collingham surname was Richard Collingham, a English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed in 1591 during the reign of Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs. He is remembered as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

In the 16th century, the surname Collingham was also associated with the village of Collingham in West Yorkshire, which was sometimes spelled as "Collingam" or "Colyngham" in historical records. This variation in spelling was common during that era.

Other notable individuals with the Collingham surname include:

1. William Collingham (1599-1671), an English clergyman and author of religious works. 2. Thomas Collingham (1728-1811), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. 3. Mary Collingham (1788-1856), an English author and poet known for her works on nature and rural life. 4. John Collingham (1819-1892), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in the late 19th century. 5. Edward Collingham (1864-1934), an English industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Collingham Textile Mills in Yorkshire.