2000
#139,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Colbry
An uncommon surname of uncertain origin, potentially referring to someone from Colbry, a place name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 136 Americans carry the last name Colbry. That puts it at #142,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,520,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Colbry surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
136
1 in 2,520,252
Census rank
#142,788
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
119
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 119 bearers of the surname Colbry in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Colbry, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Colbry
The surname COLBRY originated in England during the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "col" meaning coal and "bury" meaning a fortified town or manor, suggesting that the name may have originated from a location where coal was mined or traded.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Colbry in the county of Derbyshire. This region, known for its coal mining industry, further supports the potential origin of the name.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various forms, such as Colbry, Colbury, and Colberie, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the Norman French language introduced after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
In the 13th century, records show a William Colbry who was a prominent merchant in the city of London, trading in coal and other goods. His success and influence likely contributed to the spread and recognition of the surname in urban areas.
During the Renaissance period, the name COLBRY gained further recognition with the birth of Sir Thomas Colbry (1523-1597), a renowned scholar and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I. His legacy as a prominent figure in the English court helped establish the name's association with nobility and learning.
Another notable figure was Robert Colbry (1659-1718), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Paul's Cathedral. His architectural contributions helped cement the name's place in the city's history and cultural landscape.
In the 18th century, the name COLBRY was also associated with the industrial revolution, as several members of the family were involved in the coal mining industry in the Midlands region of England. One such figure was John Colbry (1724-1798), a successful mine owner and entrepreneur who contributed to the growth of the coal industry.
Throughout its history, the surname COLBRY has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from merchants and scholars to architects and industrialists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Colbry
Among Census respondents with the surname Colbry, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Colbry bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Colbry surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.6% · 103
- Hispanic or Latino5.0% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.4% · 4
- Two or more races3.4% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Colbry
Colbry appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
+12 bearers (+10.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,430 places
2020
#142,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
-3 bearers (-2.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 5,461 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #139,757 | 110 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | +12 bearers (+10.9%) | Up 2,430 places |
| 2020 | #142,788 | 119 | 0.04 | -3 bearers (-2.5%) | Down 5,461 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Colbry surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #137,327 | #142,788 | -4.0% |
| Count | 122 | 119 | -2.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Colbry bearers went from 122 to 119 (-2.5% change). The surname moved down 5,461 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #142,788.
FAQ
Colbry surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Colbry?
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the surname Colbry. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,520,252 residents.
How common is Colbry?
Colbry ranks #142,788 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 119 people with the surname Colbry. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (136), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Colbry.
Has Colbry become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Colbry went from 122 recorded bearers to 119. That is a decrease of 3 (-2.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #142,788.
What does the Census say about the background of Colbry?
Among Census respondents with the surname Colbry, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Colbry in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.6% (103 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Colbry appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (86.6%), Hispanic (5.0%), American Indian/Alaska Native (3.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Colbry (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Colbry mean?
An uncommon surname of uncertain origin, potentially referring to someone from Colbry, a place name. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Colbry (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Colbry?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Colbry on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.