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

Colsher, 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 Colsher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Colsher in America

Colsher is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Colsher surname appeared 102 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Colsher.

The history of the last name Colsher

The surname COLSHER is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, derived from the Old English words "col" meaning coal and "sher" meaning a cutter or shearer, suggesting an occupational name for a coal miner or coal worker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a person named Robert le Colsher was mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already in use by that time, likely referring to an individual involved in the coal mining industry.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Colshere, Colshyre, and Colsher in various manorial records and tax rolls in Yorkshire and neighboring counties. This variation in spelling was common during that era due to the lack of standardized orthography.

A notable figure bearing this surname was John Colsher, a wealthy landowner and coal merchant who lived in the village of Rotherham, Yorkshire, in the late 15th century. He was instrumental in the development of the local coal mining industry and left a significant legacy in the region.

Another individual of note was William Colsher, born in 1642 in the village of Pontefract, Yorkshire. He was a renowned stonemason and worked on the construction of several churches and other notable buildings in the area during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name COLSHER spread to other parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in counties such as Lancashire and Derbyshire. One such person was Thomas Colsher, born in 1712 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, who was a prominent figure in the local coal mining community and served as an overseer for several mines in the region.

Sarah Colsher, born in 1785 in Leeds, Yorkshire, was a well-known educator and advocate for women's education during the early 19th century. She established one of the first schools for girls in the city and wrote several books on the importance of education for women.

While the surname COLSHER is not among the most common in England today, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the coal mining traditions of Yorkshire and neighboring regions, with notable individuals contributing to various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Colsher

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

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 Colsher 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.

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 Colsher was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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