The name Collins is an English given name derived from the Old French surname Colins. The surname itself originates from the Latin name Colinus, which is a diminutive form of the Roman family name Colo. Colo is thought to have referred to a person who cultivated the land or worked as a farmer.

The name Colinus first appeared in written records during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Colinus de Parisius, a scholar and theologian who lived in Paris in the 12th century. Another early bearer was Colinus de Rameville, a Norman knight mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

In England, the name Collins gained popularity as a given name during the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Collins Gough, an English lawyer and politician who lived from 1577 to 1642. Another notable bearer was Collins Calmady, an English soldier and landowner who fought in the English Civil War (1642-1651).

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several notable individuals bore the name Collins. These include Collins King (1750-1818), an English architect who designed the Theatre Royal in Birmingham, and Collins Trelawny (1786-1850), an English naval officer and politician.

In the 20th century, some famous bearers of the name Collins include Collins Lewis (1900-1982), an American jazz drummer and bandleader, and Collins Mbugua (1934-2009), a Kenyan artist and sculptor.

Other historical figures with the given name Collins include Collins Wilkie (1824-1889), an English novelist and playwright best known for his novels "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone"; Collins Carpenter (1836-1921), an American politician who served as the 19th Governor of Iowa; and Collins Bartholomew (1891-1953), a Scottish cartographer and founder of the map publishing firm John Bartholomew and Son.