NameCensus.

UK surname

Colston

Derived from a place name meaning "Cola's town" in Old English, referring to a settlement founded by someone named Cola.

In the 1881 census there were 547 people recorded with the Colston surname, ranking it #6,313 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 696, ranked #7,738, down from #6,313 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, West Oxfordshire and Hallglen and Glen Village.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colston is 710 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.2%.

1881 census count

547

Ranked #6,313

Modern count

696

2016, ranked #7,738

Peak year

2014

710 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colston had 547 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,313 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016, ranked #7,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 628 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Colston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colston 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 392 #6,129
1861 historical 429 #5,989
1881 historical 547 #6,313
1891 historical 609 #6,307
1901 historical 628 #6,820
1911 historical 487 #7,992
1997 modern 660 #7,584
1998 modern 671 #7,727
1999 modern 662 #7,834
2000 modern 680 #7,660
2001 modern 669 #7,626
2002 modern 688 #7,614
2003 modern 665 #7,693
2004 modern 673 #7,643
2005 modern 669 #7,613
2006 modern 670 #7,622
2007 modern 684 #7,568
2008 modern 683 #7,622
2009 modern 697 #7,662
2010 modern 693 #7,842
2011 modern 707 #7,645
2012 modern 682 #7,772
2013 modern 694 #7,782
2014 modern 710 #7,687
2015 modern 705 #7,679
2016 modern 696 #7,738

Geography

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Where Colstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, West Oxfordshire, Hallglen and Glen Village, Sandwell and Stroud. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
2 West Oxfordshire 002 West Oxfordshire
3 Hallglen and Glen Village Falkirk
4 Sandwell 012 Sandwell
5 Stroud 015 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colston

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Colston 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

Colston 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

Colston 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 Colston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Colston

The surname Colston originated in England, likely emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name referring to a settlement or village. One possible source is the Old English words "col" meaning charcoal and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement, suggesting the name may have referred to a place where charcoal burning or related activities took place.

Another theory traces the name to the Old English personal name "Cola" combined with "tun," indicating it may have originated as a name for someone living in a settlement associated with a person called Cola. Early spellings of the name included Colston, Colestone, and Colstoune.

The Colston surname appears in historical records dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known mentions is in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1285, which refers to a John de Colston. The name is also found in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire in 1332, listing a Walter de Colston.

In the 16th century, the Colston surname is associated with several notable individuals. Sir John Colston (c. 1500-1558) was a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament. His grandson, Edward Colston (1636-1721), was a wealthy merchant, philanthropist, and member of the Anglican community in Bristol, England. Despite his charitable works, Colston's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade has sparked controversy in modern times.

Other historical figures with the Colston surname include John Colston (1608-1671), an English theologian and writer, and Thomas Colston (1668-1739), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Thetford.

In the 18th century, William Colston (1771-1854) was a notable English civil engineer and surveyor, known for his work on the Ellesmere Canal and other infrastructure projects.

Throughout its history, the Colston surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Colston Bassett in Nottinghamshire and Colston, a village in Somerset, further reflecting its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colston 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. Somerset leads with 71 Colstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.27x.

County Total Index
Somerset 71 8.27x
Middlesex 60 1.12x
Gloucestershire 49 4.68x
Midlothian 46 6.44x
Worcestershire 31 4.45x
Warwickshire 27 2.01x
Lancashire 25 0.39x
Kent 23 1.26x
Surrey 22 0.85x
East Lothian 20 28.30x
Fife 20 6.33x
Glamorgan 19 2.05x
Northumberland 17 2.14x
Angus 10 2.02x
Derbyshire 9 1.08x
Oxfordshire 8 2.43x
Stirlingshire 8 4.07x
Northamptonshire 7 1.39x
Cornwall 6 0.99x
Hampshire 6 0.55x
Ayrshire 5 1.25x
Huntingdonshire 5 4.72x
Lanarkshire 5 0.29x
Leicestershire 5 0.85x
Wiltshire 5 1.06x
Yorkshire 5 0.09x
Berwickshire 4 6.19x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.93x
Carmarthenshire 3 1.33x
Dorset 3 0.86x
Hertfordshire 3 0.82x
Perthshire 3 1.25x
Berkshire 2 0.50x
Herefordshire 2 0.91x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.20x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Durham 1 0.06x
Essex 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Monmouthshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 30 Colstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.45x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 30 30.45x
Shepton Mallet 26 269.71x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 25 8.69x
Hackney London 18 6.02x
Walcot 18 39.35x
Aston 13 3.51x
Bengeworth 10 416.67x
South Leith 10 12.43x
St Pancras London 10 2.33x
Athelstaneford 9 647.48x
Bedminster 9 11.15x
Kensington London 9 3.03x
Kinghorn 9 134.13x
Cardiff St Mary 8 15.63x
Castlemorton 8 588.24x
Rugby 8 43.96x
Westminster St John 8 12.31x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 7 73.45x
Everton 7 3.47x
Lewisham 7 7.21x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 7.84x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 14.76x
St Ninians 7 35.88x
Birmingham 6 1.34x
Birtsmorton 6 1132.08x
Chew Magna 6 199.34x
Dundee 6 3.25x
Millbrook 6 21.78x
Tranent 6 62.83x
Truro St Mary 6 118.11x
Westerham 6 142.86x
Whittington 6 51.90x
Battersea 5 2.55x
Benefield 5 581.40x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 34.60x
Dysart 5 23.51x
Layton With Warbreck 5 21.52x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 22.23x
Spotland 5 7.10x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.32x
Aberdare 4 6.27x
Ayr 4 21.22x
Borthwick 4 125.39x
Bowling 4 7.64x
Chipping Norton 4 52.49x
Cowley 4 38.87x
Dalkeith 4 28.37x
Eastington 4 115.61x
Keystone 4 930.23x
Southwark St John 4 24.51x
St Marylebone London 4 1.40x
St Vigeans 4 14.99x
Westgate 4 8.14x
Barony 3 0.69x
Beath 3 30.06x
Bermondsey 3 1.89x
Buxton 3 42.43x
Clifton 3 5.67x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.14x
Devizes St James 3 47.85x
Elswick 3 4.73x
Fowlis Easter 3 526.32x
Great Bolton 3 3.58x
Lambeth 3 0.64x
Liverpool 3 0.78x
Llanelly 3 5.92x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 7.29x
Newington 3 1.52x
Portland 3 15.93x
Prestonkirk 3 84.99x
Weston Super Mare 3 13.83x
Whitchurch 3 326.09x
Aslockton 2 270.27x
Bretforton 2 194.17x
Camberwell 2 0.59x
Glasgow 2 0.65x
Hemel Hempstead 2 12.07x
Ledbury 2 26.63x
Leicester St Mary 2 4.18x
Prestonpans 2 42.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 19
Thomas 18
William 18
Edward 16
James 15
Charles 14
George 11
Frederick 9
Henry 8
Robert 7
Arthur 5
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Harry 3
Albert 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
J. 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
W. 2
Alex. 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Isaac 1
Jerry 1
Luck 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
T.F. 1
Willice 1

FAQ

Colston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 547 people were recorded with the Colston surname. That placed it at #6,313 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016. That gives Colston a modern rank of #7,738.

What does the Colston surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Cola's town" in Old English, referring to a settlement founded by someone named Cola.

What does the Colston map show?

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