This surname has two origins. One is a surname derived from the Greek-Roman "Nicholas," which means "Nicholas of Col. The latter is a contraction of the Saxon "kin," meaning "Son of Col." Introduced into England by the Normans after the invasion of 1066, no fewer than 80 derivative spellings have been recorded, indicating the popularity of the name Nicholas (trans. Victory) The second possibility is that the " Coileain" with the prefix "Mac" or "O," an Anglicized form found primarily in western Ireland. In this case, the name translates as "young hound," the family being lords of Conero, and one of the earliest Irish name holders is Father Dominic Collins (1553-1602); other records include Roger Collins (1329, Somerset), Agnes Collins (1561, London), Agnet Collens (1586, Westminster), and Arce Collins (1549, London). The first recorded spelling of the family name is that of John Collin, known as "The Frenchman," in the reign of Henry 111 (1216-1272), listed in the "Kings Rolls of Devonshire" of 1221. Surnames became necessary when the government introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as the poll tax. Over the centuries, surnames in all countries have continued to "evolve," often creating surprising variants from the original spellings.

свернуть