NameCensus.

UK surname

Collopy

A variant spelling of the Scottish surname "Collopy", derived from a nickname for a person with untidy or unkempt hair.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Collopy surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 98, ranked #31,470, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Isle of Wight and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Collopy is 122 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 716.7%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

98

2016, ranked #31,470

Peak year

2000

122 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2006

Key insights

  • Collopy had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016, ranked #31,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Collopy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Collopy surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Collopy 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 39 #31,257
1901 historical 27 #31,057
1911 historical 30 #30,073
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 116 #25,089
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 112 #26,800
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 117 #26,927
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 91 #32,020
2014 modern 94 #31,909
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 98 #31,470

Geography

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Where Collopys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Isle of Wight, Solihull and Chelmsford. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
2 Isle of Wight 014 Isle of Wight
3 Solihull 008 Solihull
4 Chelmsford 008 Chelmsford
5 Rossendale 004 Rossendale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Collopy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Collopy

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Collopy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Collopy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Collopy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Collopy is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Collopy falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Collopy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Collopy

The surname Collopy is believed to have originated in Scotland, likely emerging during the Middle Ages. Its earliest roots can be traced back to the Scottish Gaelic phrase "coll pubaill," which translates to "hazel wood" or "hazel grove." This suggests that the name may have initially been a locative surname, indicating that the original bearers of the name resided near or came from an area abundant with hazel trees.

In historical records, the name Collopy appears in various spellings, including Colloppy, Colloppie, and Collopy. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the swearing of fealty to King Edward I of England by Scottish landholders. Among the names listed is "William de Collopy," indicating the presence of the surname in Scotland during the late 13th century.

The Collopy name has also been linked to several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Sir John Collopy (1520-1586), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who served as a courtier under King James V and later Queen Mary. Another prominent bearer of the name was Robert Collopy (1650-1718), a Scottish minister and theologian who authored several religious treatises during the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Collopy surname can be found in various parish records and legal documents across Scotland. One notable example is John Collopy (1725-1795), a merchant and landowner from Aberdeenshire, who played a significant role in the local economy and politics of the region.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Collopy continued to appear in Scottish records. One noteworthy figure was William Collopy (1810-1879), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Glasgow. He made significant contributions to the city's development and was instrumental in establishing several charitable organizations.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Collopy (1865-1942), a Scottish author and poet who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature, love, and Scottish culture. Her poetry collections, such as "Heather Bells" and "Songs of the Highlands," were widely acclaimed during her lifetime.

While the Collopy surname is primarily associated with Scotland, it has also been found in various parts of the world, likely due to Scottish immigration and diaspora. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references point to the name's Scottish origins and its connection to the hazel wood or hazel grove.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Collopy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Collopy 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Collopys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 5.52x
Kent 2 4.62x
Cheshire 1 3.57x
Essex 1 4.00x
Hampshire 1 3.85x
Royal Navy 1 66.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East London in Middlesex leads with 3 Collopys recorded in 1881 and an index of 252.10x.

Place Total Index
St George In East London 3 252.10x
St Giles In Fields London 2 322.58x
Aldershot 1 114.94x
Chatham 1 84.03x
Chester Castle 1 10000.00x
Heston 1 238.10x
Hougham 1 384.62x
Leyton 1 232.56x
Royal Navy 1 77.52x
St Marylebone London 1 14.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Annie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Timothy 2
Charles 1
George 1
James 1
John 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1

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 Collopy households.

FAQ

Collopy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Collopy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Collopy surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Collopy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016. That gives Collopy a modern rank of #31,470.

What does the Collopy surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Scottish surname "Collopy", derived from a nickname for a person with untidy or unkempt hair.

What does the Collopy map show?

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