Collier Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Collier Family History

Collier Family History

The Collier ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Collier include Collyer, Colyer, Colliar, Colleer, Collyear, Cullyer and Culyer. Meaning 'the Collier', this is an occupational name from someone who was a charcoal-burner. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Henry le Colyer who was recorded in County Buckinghamshire in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273. An Adam Colier was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, in the year 1379. In Scotland a John Colzear was a piper in Dunfermline in the year 1582. In Ireland the name Collier has been on record since 1305 and became well established in County Meath. The 'Petty Census' of 1659 lists it as a principal Irish name in that County. In modern times the name is mostly found in Counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford. The Collier family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Collier descendants.