COLVILLE
Colville
Origin and Meaning: Colville is a surname of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English words "col" meaning 'coal' or 'charcoal' and "ville" meaning 'settlement.' Therefore, the name likely originally referred to someone who lived near a coal settlement.
History: The Colville surname has ancient roots, with early records dating back to medieval Scotland. The Colville family held lands in various parts of Scotland, and the name is associated with several notable individuals throughout history.
Distribution and Popularity: The surname Colville is relatively rare but has been found in various parts of the United Kingdom and beyond. While most concentrated in Scotland and England, there are Colville descendants in other countries due to migration and globalisation.
Notable Individuals:
- Lord John Colville (1915-1987): British civil servant and diarist who served as Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II.
- Sir Charles Colville (1770-1843): British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and held the position of Governor of Mauritius.
- Diane Colville: Fictional character from the British soap opera "Emmerdale", played by Elizabeth Estensen.
Variants: Variations of the Colville surname include Colvile, Colvill, and Colvillie.
Legacy: The surname Colville continues to be borne by families around the world, with descendants holding on to their Scottish heritage. It serves as a reminder of the intricate tapestry of British surnames and the diverse historical paths that have shaped the cultural landscape.
There are approximately 1,708 people named Colville in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,807th most common surname in Britain. Around 26 in a million people in Britain are named Colville.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Robert
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Alison
- Barbara
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Colwill
- Colwell
- Calwell
- Coldwell
- Caldwell
- Coleville
- Colevill
- Calville
- Colvill
- Calafell
- Calvelo
- Calviello
- Calvillo
- Clavel
- Clavell
- Clavelle
- Clavill
- Cleovoulou
- Clevell
- Clivell
- Coalfield
- Colfield
- Collville
- Colvell
- Colvelle
- Colvie
- Colvil
- Colvile
- Colvine
- Covall
- Covel
- Covell
- Covil
- Covill
- Golvala
- Guilfoile
- Guilfoyle
- Kalvala
- Kilfoil
- Kilfoile
- Kilfoyle
- Killfoyle
- Kleffel
- Kleovoulou
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.