Find out how popular the last name Collis is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Collis.

Collis, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Collis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Collis in America

Collis is the 10150th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Collis surname appeared 3,178 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Collis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Collis to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Collis

The surname Collis originates from England and is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "col," meaning a charcoal burner or a person who worked with charcoal. This occupation was prevalent in areas with extensive woodlands, where charcoal production was a significant industry.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Coll" and "Colle." This ancient record suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England during the Norman Conquest.

Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Collis, Colles, and Collys. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and the scribes' interpretations of the name's pronunciation. The spelling "Collis" became more widely adopted and is considered the modern standardized form.

One notable bearer of the Collis surname was Sir John Collis (1623-1690), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Wigan during the reign of King Charles II. Another prominent figure was Daniel Collis (1761-1835), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and received the Army Gold Cross for his bravery.

In the United States, the name Collis can be traced back to the early colonial period. One of the earliest recorded instances was John Collis, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Another early bearer was William Collis, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682.

A notable American with this surname was Charles Henry Collis (1838-1901), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Philadelphia. He made significant contributions to educational institutions and was widely respected for his civic engagement.

Additionally, the Collis surname is associated with several place names in England, such as Collis Farm in Gloucestershire and Collis Lane in Warwickshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the Collis surname who resided in or owned land in those areas.

Throughout history, the Collis surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, soldiers, businessmen, and public figures. While its origins can be traced back to a specific occupation, the name has transcended its occupational roots and become a well-established surname in both England and other parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Collis

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Collis.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Collis was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Collis has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Collis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Collis, please contact us.

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