Collins Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Collins Family History


Collins Family History


The ancient origin of the name Collins 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 Collins include Collin, Collinson, Colling, Collings and Collinge. Meaning 'son of Nicholas', this name is often 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 the above islands. Examples of such are a Colinus de Newill of Linconshire, England, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273, and a William filius Colini, County Yorkshire, was also recorded in this ancient document in same year. A Johannes Colinson was recorded in the 'Poll Tax', of the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the year 1379. In Ireland Collins is anglicized form of the native Gaelic O'Coileain sept name.

A sept or clan is a collective term describing a group of persons whose immediate ancestors bore a common surname and inhabited the same territory. It is also the case that many Irish septs or clans that are related often belong to a larger groups, sometimes called tribes. For example the 'Tribes of Galway' consisted of fourteen distinct families. The 'Tribes of Kilkenny' were ten families, etc.

Their territory was in County Limerick. In the thirteenth century they were driven southwards by the Geraldines and then settled in West Cork. There was also a Sept in Cork called O'Cuilleain, subsequently anglicized Collins. The Collins 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 Collins descendants.

Meaning of Symbols & Colors on the Collins Coat of Arms


Argent/White or Silver Denotes Peace and Sincerity.
Or/Yellow/Gold Represents Generosity.
The Lion Emblem of Deathless Courage

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