NameCensus.

UK surname

Colver

An occupational surname derived from the old French "culvere" meaning dove-keeper.

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Colver surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 251, ranked #16,744, down from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ibstock, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hinckley and Bosworth, Oadby and Wigston and North West Leicestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colver is 304 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.7%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

251

2016, ranked #16,744

Peak year

2000

304 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colver had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016, ranked #16,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 267 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Colver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colver surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colver 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 243 #13,011
1901 historical 267 #12,587
1911 historical 260 #12,561
1997 modern 288 #13,886
1998 modern 295 #14,029
1999 modern 296 #14,081
2000 modern 304 #13,791
2001 modern 290 #14,033
2002 modern 287 #14,402
2003 modern 279 #14,506
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 274 #14,663
2006 modern 269 #14,952
2007 modern 257 #15,606
2008 modern 263 #15,505
2009 modern 263 #15,843
2010 modern 268 #15,978
2011 modern 261 #16,145
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 263 #16,232
2014 modern 258 #16,554
2015 modern 250 #16,803
2016 modern 251 #16,744

Geography

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Where Colvers are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Hinckley and Bosworth, Oadby and Wigston, North West Leicestershire, Sheffield and Leicester. 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 Ibstock Leicestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kirkby Mallory Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hinckley and Bosworth 007 Hinckley and Bosworth
2 Oadby and Wigston 003 Oadby and Wigston
3 North West Leicestershire 013 North West Leicestershire
4 Sheffield 023 Sheffield
5 Leicester 036 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colver

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colver

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Colver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Colver household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Colver 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

Colver is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colver 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 Colver 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 Colver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Colver

The surname Colver is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "culfre," meaning "dove" or "pigeon." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who kept or traded in these birds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 13th century, found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "William le Culvere." This spelling variation highlights the common practice of adding occupational suffixes like "le" to surnames during that time.

In the 14th century, the Colver surname appeared in the Gloucestershire Subsidy Rolls of 1327, recorded as "Johannes Culvere." This entry provides further evidence of the name's early usage and its connection to the Old English word "culfre."

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Colver surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the development of the name, such as Culford in Suffolk and Culworth in Northamptonshire.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the Colver name was John Colver, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. He is recorded in various historical documents from that period, including the City of London's Letter Books.

Another notable figure was Sir Francis Colver, a respected military officer who served in the English Civil War during the 17th century. He was born in 1610 and fought for the Royalist cause, participating in several crucial battles.

In the 18th century, Samuel Colver, a renowned English clergyman and author, gained recognition for his literary works. He was born in 1717 and published several influential theological treatises during his lifetime.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Colver, a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester, England. Born in 1812, he founded the Colver Manufacturing Company and was known for his charitable contributions to various educational and social causes.

Lastly, Olive Colver, born in 1896, was a pioneering female archaeologist and anthropologist. She conducted extensive fieldwork in the American Southwest, studying the cultures and artifacts of indigenous communities, and made significant contributions to the field of archaeology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colver 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. Leicestershire leads with 110 Colvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.16x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 110 52.16x
Yorkshire 23 1.22x
Kent 10 1.54x
Middlesex 8 0.42x
Nottinghamshire 7 2.73x
Somerset 6 1.96x
Essex 4 1.07x
Lincolnshire 4 1.32x
Norfolk 4 1.37x
Surrey 4 0.43x
Lancashire 3 0.13x
Warwickshire 3 0.63x
Ayrshire 2 1.41x
Durham 2 0.35x
Gloucestershire 2 0.54x
Derbyshire 1 0.34x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Worcestershire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkby Mallory Earl in Leicestershire leads with 48 Colvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4752.48x.

Place Total Index
Kirkby Mallory Earl 48 4752.48x
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 54.77x
Leicester St Margaret 18 35.00x
Hugglescote 8 258.06x
Earl Shilton 7 1521.74x
Frindsbury 7 285.71x
Hinckley 7 140.00x
Wigston Magna 7 250.00x
Carlton 6 204.78x
Martock 6 301.51x
Oadby 5 442.48x
Gainsborough 4 55.79x
Oxborough 4 2666.67x
Ravenstone 4 1379.31x
Rettendon 4 851.06x
St George Hanover Square 3 8.95x
Battersea 2 2.86x
Brandon Byshottles 2 28.21x
Brightside Bierlow 2 5.41x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 13.97x
Kilwinning 2 43.48x
Minchinhampton 2 67.34x
Plumstead 2 9.25x
Spotland 2 7.97x
Basford 1 8.46x
Birmingham 1 0.63x
Blaby 1 117.65x
Camberwell 1 0.82x
Fulham London 1 3.62x
Hampstead London 1 3.38x
Horsley 1 55.87x
Humberstone 1 57.80x
Kidderminster Borough 1 6.88x
Knighton 1 84.03x
Lambeth 1 0.60x
Leicester St Martin 1 70.42x
Leicester St Mary 1 5.87x
Northwood 1 18.02x
Paddington London 1 1.43x
Peckleton 1 588.24x
Rainham 1 56.18x
West Derby 1 1.51x
Westminster St James 1 5.12x
Whitechapel London 1 5.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 7
Emma 6
Ann 5
Hannah 5
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Helen 2
Alethea 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizbth. 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Harriett 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Liley 1
Lizzie 1
M... 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Minnie 1
Patience 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 10
John 10
James 9
Arthur 6
Joseph 6
Thomas 6
Charles 4
Walter 3
Albert 2
Amos 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Alonzo 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Gorge 1
Harry 1
Jonathan 1
Morris 1
Morton 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Colver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Colver surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016. That gives Colver a modern rank of #16,744.

What does the Colver surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the old French "culvere" meaning dove-keeper.

What does the Colver map show?

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