NameCensus.

UK surname

Collister

A locational surname deriving from the village of Collaster on the Isle of Man.

In the 1881 census there were 130 people recorded with the Collister surname, ranking it #16,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 358, ranked #12,931, up from #16,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bridekirk, Toxteth Park and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Wiltshire and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Collister is 415 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 175.4%.

1881 census count

130

Ranked #16,911

Modern count

358

2016, ranked #12,931

Peak year

1998

415 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Collister had 130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016, ranked #12,931.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Collister surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Collister surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Collister 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 83 #19,181
1861 historical 111 #19,429
1881 historical 130 #16,911
1891 historical 209 #14,459
1901 historical 270 #12,492
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 380 #11,418
1998 modern 415 #11,061
1999 modern 398 #11,486
2000 modern 399 #11,422
2001 modern 386 #11,509
2002 modern 392 #11,607
2003 modern 353 #12,345
2004 modern 342 #12,645
2005 modern 379 #11,662
2006 modern 375 #11,796
2007 modern 359 #12,356
2008 modern 369 #12,210
2009 modern 379 #12,224
2010 modern 381 #12,436
2011 modern 379 #12,343
2012 modern 392 #11,898
2013 modern 391 #12,123
2014 modern 388 #12,280
2015 modern 377 #12,428
2016 modern 358 #12,931

Geography

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Where Collisters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bridekirk, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, West Derby and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Wiltshire, Wirral and Conwy. 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 Bridekirk Cumberland
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Bidstone Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 006 Allerdale
2 Wiltshire 001 Wiltshire
3 Wirral 014 Wirral
4 Conwy 012 Conwy
5 Wirral 023 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Collister

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Collister

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Collister surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Collister household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Collister is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Collister 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

Collister falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Collister is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Collister

The surname Collister is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic language. It is believed to have originated in the Hebrides islands off the western coast of Scotland, particularly on the Isle of Skye, sometime during the Middle Ages.

The name Collister is thought to be a locational surname, meaning it was originally taken from a place name. It is likely derived from the Gaelic words "coille" meaning "wood" or "forest" and "stiùir" meaning "to manage" or "to guide." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who was a forester or a guide through the woodlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Collister can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1456, where a person named "Gillecrist Collister" is mentioned. This document provides evidence that the name was in use in Scotland during the 15th century.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Donald Collister, who was a prominent figure in the Scottish Covenanting movement. He was born around 1620 and played an active role in the resistance against the attempts by the Stuart monarchs to impose religious reforms on the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Another historical figure with the surname Collister was John Collister, a Scottish soldier who fought in the Battle of Culloden in 1746. He was born in the late 17th century and served in the Jacobite army during the Rising of 1745-46.

In the 19th century, James Collister (1808-1889) was a Scottish-born Australian businessman and politician. He migrated to Australia in the 1830s and became a successful merchant and landowner in the colony of New South Wales. He served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1856 to 1889.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Alexander Collister (1871-1946) was a Scottish-born Canadian engineer and inventor. He was born in Ayrshire and emigrated to Canada in the early 1900s, where he worked on developing new technologies for the mining industry.

While the name Collister is relatively uncommon, it has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history, primarily in Scotland and areas with significant Scottish heritage, such as Australia and Canada. The name serves as a reminder of the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Collister families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Collister 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. Isle of Man leads with 359 Collisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 405.28x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 359 405.28x
Lancashire 88 1.55x
Cumberland 10 2.44x
Surrey 10 0.43x
Kent 6 0.37x
Cheshire 5 0.47x
Yorkshire 5 0.11x
Hampshire 3 0.31x
Devon 1 0.10x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Somerset 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 94 Collisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 368.34x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 94 368.34x
Malew 74 956.07x
Rushen 60 1001.67x
Patrick 31 717.59x
German 26 538.30x
Lonan 25 465.55x
Douglas 24 1875.00x
West Derby 23 13.89x
Everton 14 7.76x
Toxteth Park 11 5.74x
Ballaugh 9 569.62x
Liverpool 9 2.62x
St Anne 7 736.84x
Bletchingley 6 198.02x
Braddan 6 123.97x
Broughton In Salford 6 11.59x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 4.04x
Beckenham 5 23.50x
Crosscanonby 5 36.82x
Kirkdale 5 5.25x
Holbeck 4 12.77x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 10.56x
Egremont 3 30.64x
Litherland 3 25.36x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 3 24.77x
Gilcrux 2 238.10x
Oldham 2 1.09x
Portsea 2 1.04x
Reigate Foreign 2 7.95x
Warrington 2 2.98x
Aldershot 1 3.05x
Birkenhead 1 1.19x
Burton In Lonsdale 1 98.04x
Cobham 1 26.25x
Didsbury 1 13.30x
Garston 1 5.98x
Godstone 1 24.04x
Lewisham 1 1.15x
Lezayre 1 25.19x
Malew Castletown 1 625.00x
Manchester 1 0.39x
Moss Side 1 3.36x
Nantwich 1 8.18x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.31x
Ramsey 1 1428.57x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.19x
Walcot 1 2.45x
Walton On Hill 1 3.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 25
Mary 24
Jane 20
Isabella 15
Sarah 15
Margaret 14
Annie 11
Catherine 10
Eleanor 8
Emily 8
Ann 7
Esther 7
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Eliza 5
Agnes 3
Florence 3
Amy 2
Cathrine 2
Edith 2
Elleanor 2
Elloner 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Anna 1
Christiana 1
Elenor 1
Eliz. 1
Ellenor 1
Evalyn 1
Evangeline 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Isa. 1
Isaballa 1
Isbella 1
Jannetta 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Lillie 1
Linda 1
Lizzie 1
Zepparah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 39
Thomas 25
Robert 19
James 12
Edward 10
George 9
Joseph 7
Henry 6
Wm. 6
Richard 5
David 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Ambrose 3
Daniel 3
Evan 3
Philip 3
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Louis 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Angus 1
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Edwin 1
Enos 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Matthew 1
Oscar 1
Patrick 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Simeon 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Collister surname: questions and answers

How common was the Collister surname in 1881?

In 1881, 130 people were recorded with the Collister surname. That placed it at #16,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Collister surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016. That gives Collister a modern rank of #12,931.

What does the Collister surname mean?

A locational surname deriving from the village of Collaster on the Isle of Man.

What does the Collister map show?

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