Surname Colville - Meaning and Origin

Colville: What does the surname Colville mean?

The surname Colville is of French and English origin. It traces back to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 when the Colville family lived in Colville, a small town in Normandy. The name was originally derived from the Old Norse words "kol" which means "coal" and "fjall" which means "hill", essentially designating the family as being from the "coal hill." After migrating to England following the Norman Conquest, various branches of the family established themselves in different regions, including Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, and others. Over time, surnames like Colville developed as a way to sort people into groups—by occupation, place of origin, family affiliation, patronage, etc. Thus, the name Colville serves an important link to the family's past and the history of the area from which it originated. As such, the wider bearers of the surname include many notable figures in various fields, further adding to the rich tapestry of the Colville surname.

Colville: Where does the name Colville come from?

The surname Colville is of Norman origin and was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It derives from the place name "Coleville" in Rouen, Normandy. The name means "settlement (ville) of Cole", with Cole being a personal name.

The earliest record of the name in the British Isles dates back to the 12th century in Northumberland, Northeast England. The Colville family held a feudal barony in this region. From there, the family spread into Scotland, where they were recognized as a chiefly family.

Today, the surname is found far more frequently in the United States than in the UK. According to forebears.io, it is most common in the United States, followed by England, and then Australia. Among the places in the world, it is most densely populated in Belize. In the United States, it is statistically most common in Montana. In England, it's most frequent in Northumberland, likely due to the historical presence of the Colville family in this region. Finally, in Australia, Tasmania has the highest prevalence of the Colville surname.

Variations of the surname Colville

The surname Colville can have several variants and spellings due to regional differences, phonetic spellings, and translations. Variants can include Colvell, Culville and Colvill. During the Middle Ages, literate scribes would record a name as it was pronounced, so many names have multiple spellings due to interpretations of different accents. Moreover, family members sometimes chose different spelling variations to distinguish branches of the family.

In terms of origin, it is of French and Scottish origin (from Norman French), and relates to a place in Northern France thus we can also find variations of French spelling like Colleville. The same surname might have been anglicized differently depending on the region of settlement in English-speaking countries. It is always possible that a family could have changed their name or adopted a different spelling over time, so genealogical research may turn up variations not listed here.

Furthermore, it is also common for surnames to be simplified over generations, so potential variants may have dropped a syllable or two, such as Colvil or Covil.

Famous people with the name Colville

• John Colville: He was a British civil servant and diarist who served as the private secretary to multiple prime ministers including Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain.
• Wendy Colville: An actress known for her roles in shows like "Dixon of Dock Green".
• David Colville: He was a Canadian industrialist who was known for founding the steel company Dofasco.
• James Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir: He was a Scottish Conservative Party politician and colonial governor who served as Secretary of State for Scotland.
• Matt Colville: A writer and designer in the game industry, he is known for his work on Dungeons & Dragons as well as his YouTube channel where he shares game tips and tutorials.
• Alexander Colville: A renowned Canadian painter whose precise and detailed works have been exhibited around the world.
• Ruth Colville: A British actress known for her roles in popular television dramas such as BBC's "Holby City" and ITV's "The Bill".
• Charles Colville: A British cricketer who played in the 19th century.
• Lucinda Colville: An actress who appeared in some episodes of the TV series Waterloo Road.
• Frances Colville: Known for her roles in "Lovejoy" and "Doctors".

Other surnames

Colvile