Collinson
A locational surname referring to a person from one of many places with the name Collinson.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,371 Americans carry the last name Collinson. That puts it at #22,095 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.40 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 250,003 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Collinson surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.4K
1 in 250,003
Census rank
#22,095
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,172 bearers of the surname Collinson in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22095th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Collinson, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Black (5.4%) and Hispanic (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Collinson
The surname Collinson is an English patronymic name derived from the personal name Colin, itself a medieval diminutive form of the name Nicholas. The name is believed to have originated in Yorkshire and Lancashire in Northern England during the late 12th century.
One of the earliest known records of the Collinson surname dates back to the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379, where a William Colynson is listed as residing in the village of Arkengarthdale. The Collinson name also appears in various medieval records from the 14th and 15th centuries, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls and the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The Collinson surname is thought to have evolved from various spellings over time, including Colinson, Colynson, Colineson, and Collingson, reflecting the regional dialects and phonetic variations of the time. In some instances, the name may have been influenced by or derived from local place names, such as Collinghall in Yorkshire or Collingbourne in Wiltshire.
One notable bearer of the Collinson surname was Peter Collinson (1694-1768), a renowned botanist and naturalist from Huguenot descent, who played a significant role in introducing various plant species from North America to Europe. Another individual of note was James Collinson (1825-1881), a British engineer and inventor responsible for the development of the hot blast process in iron smelting.
Other historical figures bearing the Collinson surname include John Collinson (1757-1849), an English clergyman and naturalist who authored several works on the flora and fauna of Somerset; and Mary Collinson (1716-1766), an accomplished artist and naturalist renowned for her intricate botanical illustrations.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, records show the Collinson name was present in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, and Middlesex, indicating the surname's widespread distribution across the country. While the name may have originated in northern England, it eventually spread to other regions through migration and family dispersal.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Collinson
Among Census respondents with the surname Collinson, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Black (5.4%) and Hispanic (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Collinson bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Collinson surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.5%
- Black or African American5.4%
- Hispanic or Latino1.6%
- Two or more races1.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Collinson surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,617 | #22,095 | 6.4% |
| Count | 1,001 | 1,172 | 17.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.37 | 0.40 | 8.1% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Collinson bearers went from 1,001 to 1,172 (+17.1% change). The surname moved up 1,522 positions in the national ranking, going from #23,617 to #22,095.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Collinson
FAQ
Collinson surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Collinson?
The surname Collinson holds position #22,095 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,371 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Collinson surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Collinson, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Black (5.4%) and Hispanic (1.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.