This very Olde English surname has two possible origins, both from pre-existing personal names. The first of these is from the Old Norse personal name "Kollungr" a form of "koli" which in Olde English (pre 7th Century) took the form of "Cola", and signified one of dark or swarthy appearance. The second source is from the personal name "Coll" which is a diminutive of "Nicholas" a Greek name meaning "victory of the people" and very popular in the Middle Ages partly due to the influence of St. Nicholas, patron saint of children and sailors.
The name development has included Griffin Collingus (1114 Staffordshire) and John Collynges (1376 Shropshire).Church records include Edward Colling who was christened on May 24th 1562 in St. Andrew Hubbard with St. Mary at Hill, London; Francisca Colinge who was christened on April 17th 1675 in St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, and Ely Collings who was christened on July 15th 1792 in St. Mary le Bow, London. One Catherine Colling, aged 20 yrs., a famine emigrant, sailed from Liverpool, aboard the "Liberty", bound for New York on April 8th 1847. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Aluuardus Colling, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book (Wiltshire), during the reign of King William 1, known as "The Conqueror" 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of collings leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname collings, and in addition to the original locations of collings, we can find out where people with the surname collings can currently be found.
There is a considerable probability that collings has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where collings is most abundant are the following. The mobility of people carrying the surname collings has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named collings are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname collings are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of collings could be modified. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname collings or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of collings.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname collings, even though not all have been documented to our present day. A surname like collings can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname collings who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname collings, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname collings, as well as many other surnames.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of collings, and at the same time, of surnames in general.