COLLIS

Collis is a surname of English origin that has accumulated several distinct etymological explanations over the centuries. The name is recorded both as a topographic identifier and as an occupational surname, and it carries a patronymic association with the Christian saint Nicholas.

The most widely accepted topographic derivation comes from the Old English word coll, meaning “hill.” This root is cognate with the Latin collis, which likewise denotes a hill or summit. The Norman influence is evident in the early medieval form de Collis, suggesting that a family bearing the name originally lived near a hill or a small mountain on the Continent. The Norman Conquest of 1066 introduced many such place‑based surnames to England, and Collis would have been no exception.

An occupational interpretation is also documented. In Old English, col means “coal” or “charcoal.” Individuals who worked with, sold, or lived near coal mines and hearths were sometimes identified by this nickname, which evolved into the surname Collis. Thus, a Collis in medieval England might have been a coal‑dealer or a resident of a coal‑producing locality.

In the early medieval period, Collis was also a patronymic derivative of the pet form Coll(in) of the Christian name Nikolaos. Nikolaos is Greek in origin, combining nike (victory) with laos (people). The popularity of the name was amplified by Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who lived in the 4th century and later became venerated in Britain and Ireland during the late Middle Ages. As a result, the Collis surname is also linked with the legacy of a saint renowned for miracles and patronage of seafarers and schoolboys.

Historical documentation of the surname dates to the early twelfth century. The first recorded spelling is that of John Collin, dated 1221, preserved in the Curia Regis Rolls of Devonshire. Subsequent mentions appear in 1290 in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk, in 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset, and in 1191 within the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire. These records confirm that the name was in active use across a wide geographic area of England during the Middle Ages.

Demographic records in Britain show Collis to have been a common name in the 19th century. The 1881 Census lists Collis as the twenty‑second most frequent surname in England, accounting for 0.87 per cent of the population, and it was particularly concentrated in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In more recent times, the surname remains present internationally but has declined in relative popularity. According to the 2019 United States Census, Collis ranked twenty‑two‑five‑nine‑seventh most common, while the Office for National Statistics lists it as twenty‑three‑thirty‑eight‑three‑seventh in the United Kingdom. Occasional instances also appear in continental Europe, notably France, Spain, and Germany, although the name is relatively uncommon in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the modern spelling include Colliss, Colles, Collis, Collon, Collen, and Collyns. Related surnames that share a common linguistic root, or that appear in genealogical records, are Collies, Coller, Colleer, Collere, Colley, Colliar, and Colyer. The variety of spellings reflects the historical fluidity of record‑keeping and the regional pronunciations that evolved over centuries.

Members of the Collis family have occasionally adopted heraldic symbols. The most common design features a shield quartered by a silver cross and a red plate in each quadrant. Above the shield is a silver helmet with a crest in which a red falcon, wings raised and claws extended, ascends. While not all bearers of the name possess such arms, those who do often regard the heraldry as a testament to a proud and long‑serving family heritage.

Today, the surname Collis continues to be carried by individuals in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Newfoundland, among other locations. For many, the name remains a source of family pride that echoes its medieval origins, whether as a memorial of a hilltop residence, a coal‑working vocation, or a patronymic connection to a celebrated saint.

Typical given names associated with the Collis surname

Male

• Andrew
• David
• James
• John
• Matthew
• Michael
• Paul
• Peter
• Richard
• Stephen

Female

• Deborah
• Diane
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Joanne
• Linda
• Margaret
• Mary
• Nicola
• Patricia
• Sarah
• Susan
• Victoria

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Collis in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Surname type: From name of parent

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Collis

• James Collis - Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1856 to 1918)
• Steve Collis - Football
• Barry Collis - Cricketer

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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