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We may properly credit the Romans
with originating our modern system of names, but we may equally
blame the demise of this intelligent practice on the barbarians
who swept across western Europe between the third and fifth centuries
A. D. During the Dark Ages (following the Fall of Rome) most
Europeans were known first only by their given name, and later
occasionally by their given name prefixed to their place of birth.
The advent of the eleventh century, however, saw the cultural,
social, and economic conditions in Europe grow more complex.
Populations increased dramatically; the rise of feudalism and
the early stirring of mercantilism supplanted the simple communal
life of the country village. All these developments forced people
into ever-growing towns and cities. Communications, the handmaid
of commerce, became more efficient,. Under such conditions, the
use of a single name caused increasing confusion, and soon, the
hereditary surname (a last name, bequeathed to each generation
of children in the same or similar (form) found growing acceptance.
Perhaps the most notable instance of this development was the
introduction of feudalism into England with the Norman Invasion
of 1066. Within the space of three generations, the French worked
an almost total transformation of English culture. In particular,
the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic language was merged with and in some
cases was replaced by the native tongue of the new Norman rulers.
In the course of time other modifications followed and hereditary
surnames achieved a clearly defined order previously unknown.
Beginning in the seventeenth century this system was transferred
virtually intact to the American colonies. The surname COLLIER is found in the English counties of Surrey, Cheshire, Berkshire, and Staffordshire. By the time of the first census in America in 1790, many COLLIER families had settled in this country. The average COLLIER household had 5.5 members and census records indicate that many more COLLIER head-of-households living in Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky than in any other part of America. Official United States records compiled in 1974 indicate that in that year COLLIER was the 487th most frequently occurring surname in the nation. Today (1978) there are approximately 56,200 adult Americans named COLLIER. The first immigrants were the English, who were to lead all other nationalities in immigration until the first half of the nineteen century, when Irish and German immigrants began to arrive in large numbers. Early English immigrants consisted, basically, of two different groups who settled in two different place: the Puritans in Massachusetts and the Cavaliers in Virginia. AMERICAN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, 1235 Kenilworth Ave N. E., Washington, D. C. 20019 Who are the earliest Colliers/Colyers/ etc known in the the records that have come down to us? Where were they from? The origin of the family name Collier was probably the village of Caulieres in France, and the first recorded use of the name was in a cartulary of Selincourt Abbey in 1217, when one of the witnesses was "Frater johannes de Caoulieres" ANTIQUARIES DEPICARDIE, Vol 40. Amiens; grant by Godefrid deMianny. v Johannes de Liestes was born in the village of Liestre, 44 kilometers soutease of Boulogne, Department of Pas-de-Calais, in northest France. He was the younger son of a baronial family who, as a young man was apparently transferred, by the mother abbey, to. Selincourt Abbey, which assigned him as a bailiff or magistrate to the management of the village of Caulieres. The evidence indicates that he was not a member of the clergy and the designation "Frater" was probably a courtesy title he because of his duties in connection with the village of Caulieres. Johannes adopted the name of the village of his emplyoyment. Caulieres. as his surname and became the founder of a prolific family. He did not possess a feudal estate since the entire village belonged to the abbey, so each of his sons had to acquire his own estate through purchase, marriage, military service, or other means. As a result. the Caulieres family spread widely over ancient picardy and Arthos, but disappeared from the village whose name they bore: A variety of coats-of-arms arose among the various family branches. The forename Robert occurred repeatedly throughout the Department of Pas-de-Calais in this region that our ancestor Robert Coleire was born about 1453. Robert was born near the end of the hundred year war (1337-1437) between France and England The English kings controlled much of France. William the conqueror was also was Duke of Normandy: so his heirs continued to rule that important part of France, Eleanor of Aquintain, heiress of thaf vast feudal estate that included most southwestern France, was divorced by King Louis VII of France and married an English prince who became King Henry II of England. The English kings held their French lands as vassals of the King of France while ruling England in their own right. In theory their lands were part of the french kingdom, but in practice they belonged to end. Fighting over feudal claims went on for several centuries, but in the 14th centuries the trouble blazed into a national war that lasted over a hundred years. For a time war went badly for the French. Then Joan of Arc changed the course of event. leading the French in the defense of Orleans. She also recaptured the city of Reins where the French kings were crowned, making possible the coronation of the Dauphin, heir to the crown. The new King was lazy and did not follow up on the victories and later, the English captured Joan and burned her at the stake. According to legend, one of English soldiers. who had come rejoice at the death of an was heard to cry out, "We are lost we have burned a saint!" The English cause in cause was indeed lost. In the next few years, the French slowly drove back the invadered until only Calais. France remained remained in English hands. Calais, France was controlled by England until 1558. Where in England was the name Collier and var.) most prevalent in olden days. Where in the world is it most prevalent today? ROBERT COLEIRE de DARLASTON (c, 1453- c. 1505 Robert Coleire was born in France about 1453 and died in Staffordshire. England about 1505. He married lsabella Doddington, daughter of Sir John Doddington, about 1483. Robert Colleire came to England about 1482, long preceeding the arrival of other members of his family in England and Ireland. He settled in the market town of Stone Manor, in Straffordshire County, England. The town stands on the river Trent and Trent Mersey Canal, 7 miles north nortwest of Strafford, 7 miles south of Stoke-upon-Trent, and 137 miles from London. He was a taylor (tailer), draper(a dealer in cloth or in (clothes), then a woolbuyer. Some of these staplers (dealers in staple goods) grew to great wealth. In the year 1503, two years before his death, Robert and Isabella moved to Darlaston Manor. Robert and his son Thurston leased Darlaston Manor, in the county of Straffordshire, from Thomas Whally, then in 1537, Robert's son, James purchased the manor from Richard Whalley. Except for a brief time Robert's great grandson, James Collier, sold the manor to his father-in-law in 1597 and until his son Francis repurchased it from his grandfather in 1597, there was a Collier (Coleire) as Lord of Darlaston over 180 years, until a great-great-great-great-grandson, James Collier (Coleire) sold it to William Jervis in 1685. Anne Laidley Collier, 210 West Main Street , Uniontown, PA Chapter did an genealogy study of relatives that served in the Revolutionary War for the DAR Chapter GREAT MEADOWS and it was forward to: Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington, D. C. It was based on Col. Charles Swan service during the Revolutionary War. The Collier Coat of Arms And its History Coats of Arms were developed in the Middle Ages as a means of identifying warriors in battle and tournaments. The present function of the Coat of Arms (although still one of identity) serves more to preserve the traditions that arose from its earlier use. Heraldic artists of old developed their own unique language to describe an individual Coat of Arms. The Coat of Arms was drawn by an heraldic artist from information recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Our research indicates that there are often times a number of different Coats of Arms recorded for a specific surname. When possible we select and translate the Coat of Arms most representative of your surname or its variant for illustration. THE COLLIER COAT OF ARMS HERE IS OFFICIALLY DOCUMENTED IN RIETSTAP'S ARMORIAL GENERAl., THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ARMS (SHIELD) IS AS FOLLOWS: "D'OR A LA CROIX PATFEE AU PIED FICHE DE GU.; AU CANTON D'AZUR, CH. D'UN CHATEAU AU NAT., LEMUR BATTU EN BRECHE." WHEN TRANSLATED THE BLAZON ALSO DESCRIBES THE ORIGINAL COLORS OF THE COLLIER ARMS AS: "GOLD; A RED PATIZE FITCHEE CROSS; A BLUE UPPER CORNER CHARGED WITH A NATURALLY COLORED CASTE, THE WALLS ARE DAMAGED WITH HOLES." ABOVE THE SHIELD AND HELMET IS THE CREST WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS: "A GOLD PATFEE FITCHEE CROSS BETWEEN TWO BLACK WINGS, EACH WING STREWN WITH GOLD ERMINE SPOTS." Mediaeval Knight In Armour The HELM frequently had a dome-shaped top section (SKULL) to deflect blows. The most popular form of CREST was a fan-shaped construction of painted parchment on a wood or metal frame. The viewing area (SIGHT) when the VISOR was down permitted limited vision but was small enough to reject weapon thrusts. The air slots in the visor were called BREATHS. When not in use in combat, the visor was lifted or removed altogether. The neck cover (GORGET) was a series of curved plates which were tied or chained together. Body armor was usually strapped over chain mail. The upper arm (PAULDRON) and lower arm (VAMBRACE) defenses were curved plates articulated at the elbow with small cupped plates (COUTERS). A circular plate (RONDEL or BESAGEW) was tied or riveted at the shoulder. The BREASTPLATE, a single plate covering the whole chest, was developed from a series of small plates which were chained or riveted together. It was generally tied or buckled across the open back, although some breastplates with holes for lacings apparenty had some form of back defense. The LANCE REST was only used in tournaments or combat and was generally folded away or removed when not in use. The hip defense (TASSET) was usually a series of curved articulated plates which encircled the waist and were fastened at the sides. Leg harness consisted of curved plates (CUISSES) about the upper leg and lower leg (GREAVES). The knee defense (POLEYN) had small circular side wings to protect the tendons inside the joint. Foot defenses (SABATON) were often plate-covered shoes. Hands were protected by cuffs and encircling wrist plates, with the fingers covered by rows of over-lapping scales (GAUNTLETS). The SHIELD was generally long with a flattened top and pointed bottom, a design which allowed the user both visibility and maneuverability on horseback. The surname COLLIER is found in the English counties of Surrey, Cheshire, Berkshire, and Staffordshire. By the time of the first census in America in 1790, many COLLIER families had settled in this country. The average COLLIER household had 5.5 members and census records indicate that many more COLLIER head-of-households living in Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky than in any other part of America. Official United States records compiled in 1974 indicate that in that year COLLIER was the 487th most frequently occurring surname in the nation. Today (1978) there are approximately 56,200 adult Americans named COLLIER. The first immigrants were the English, who were to lead all other nationalities in immigration until the first half of the nineteen century, when Irish and German immigrants began to arrive in large numbers. Early English immigrants consisted, basically, of two different groups who settled in two different place: the Puritans in Massachusetts and the Cavaliers in Virginia. AMERICAN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, 1235 Kenilworth Ave N. E., Washington, D. C. 20019 Subject: Collier Orgins From: Donna Colyer Hunt To: Some info that I have picked up in my research regarding the origins of, the surname and its derivaties. Source - Dictionary of English Surnames 1995 pub Oxford Press by P H Reaney. The Dictionary of English Surnames gives us the following: COLIAR, COLIER, COLIERE, COLLIAR, COLLIER, COLLEER, COLLYER, COLYEAR, COLYEAR, COLYER formed from "col" a derivative of coal, a maker or seller of charcoal in ancient times. Notes -Being a referred to by your occupation was a common practice in early times, This was a migratory occupation, workers moved along with their jobs, much like many of us today, Movement from one coal producing area to another, perhaps leaving relatives along the way, created pockets of surname. Many of these pockets survived, multiplied and give us the origins of our personal lines today. Examples from the Dictionary of English Surnames with sources and notes from the editors-- Ranuff Collier at 1150 (L) found in Lincolnshire (source FM Stenton, Documents illustrative of the Social and Economic History of the Danelaw, London England 1920) Bernard le coliere 1172 SO Somerset source: (P) Pipe Rolls: Record Commission. 3 vol, London 1833-44: Pipe Roll Soc (in progress); The Great Roll of the Pipe for the 26ths year of Henry the Third, ed H L Cannon, Yale Hist, Pub 19i8. A derivative of Old Engiish col "coal'! a maker or seller of charcoal (a1375 MED) a1375 MED - Middle English Dictionary ed H Kurah, SM Kuhn and J Reidy, Ann Arbor 1954 Note- From research done by Ronald Collier, Appalachian Genealogist, Cumberland KY England, ireland, Wales and Scotland certainly had coal producing areas. The names survive in many modern families, particularily in England. COLYEAR was the most common in Scotland where the famiiy was a branch of the powerful and famous Robertson Clan. In Ireland, the first appearance of the name COLLIER is for Colliertown in County Meath 1305. The name also extended into Carlow Kilkenny and Wexford Counties. In France: COLLIER developed fram a place name CAULLiERS. And the noble French famiiy of COLYEAR de Portmore of Ecosse had a Scottish heritage. The German version KOHLER, KOLLAR and KOLLER developed also from the place of Kohler. The earliest COLLIER in Amenica appears to be WILLIAM, appearing on tax records 1633. And SARAH COLLIER married Love Brewster in 1634 in Plymouth MA. Love Brewster father. William, the Captain of the Mayflower which landed at Plymouth Rock< MA 1620. From 1620 til today, COLLIER remains a active surname. Colyer is less active with approximateiy 1000 hits in the 1990 census. COLLYER is even more rare. On the webpage below is sime additional info on the Dutch lines of Colyer which descend from Colyear in Scotland who emigrated to Holland c 16-1700's that is really interesting as it connects the Scot lines, Dutch lines and French lines loosely. Donna Colyer Hunt, 808 E DeYoung, Marion, Il 62959 E-Mail: Donna Colyer Hunt- address [email protected] The surname COLLIER is found in the English counties of Surrey, Cheshire, Berkshire, and Staffordshire. By the time of the first census in America in 1790, many COLLIER families had settled in this country. The average COLLIER household had 5.5 members and census records indicate that many more COLLIER head-of-households living in Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky than in any other part of America. Official United States records compiled in 1974 indicate that in that year COLLIER was the 487th most frequently occurring surname in the nation. Today (1978) there are approximately 56,200 adult Americans named COLLIER. The first immigrants were the English, who were to lead all other nationalities in immigration until the first half of the nineteen century, when Irish and German immigrants began to arrive in large numbers. Early English immigrants consisted, basically, of two different groups who settled in two different place: the Puritans in Massachusetts and the Cavaliers in Virginia. AMERICAN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, 1235 Kenilworth Ave N. E., Washington, D. C. 20019 Who are the earliest Colliers/Colyers/ etc known in the the records that have come down to us? Where were they from? The origin of the family name Collier was probably the village of Caulieres in France, and the first recorded use of the name was in a cartulary of Selincourt Abbey in 1217, when one of the witnesses was "Frater johannes de Caoulieres" ANTIQUARIES DEPICARDIE, Vol 40. Amiens; grant by Godefrid deMianny. v Johannes de Liestes was born in the village of Liestre, 44 kilometers soutease of Boulogne, Department of Pas-de-Calais, in northest France. He was the younger son of a baronial family who, as a young man was apparently transferred, by the mother abbey, to. Selincourt Abbey, which assigned him as a bailiff or magistrate to the management of the village of Caulieres. The evidence indicates that he was not a member of the clergy and the designation "Frater" was probably a courtesy title he because of his duties in connection with the village of Caulieres. Johannes adopted the name of the village of his emplyoyment. Caulieres. as his surname and became the founder of a prolific family. He did not possess a feudal estate since the entire village belonged to the abbey, so each of his sons had to acquire his own estate through purchase, marriage, military service, or other means. As a result. the Caulieres family spread widely over ancient picardy and Arthos, but disappeared from the village whose name they bore: A variety of coats-of-arms arose among the various family branches. The forename Robert occurred repeatedly throughout the Department of Pas-de-Calais in this region that our ancestor Robert Coleire was born about 1453. Robert was born near the end of the hundred year war (1337-1437) between France and England The English kings controlled much of France. William the conqueror was also was Duke of Normandy: so his heirs continued to rule that important part of France, Eleanor of Aquintain, heiress of thaf vast feudal estate that included most southwestern France, was divorced by King Louis VII of France and married an English prince who became King Henry II of England. The English kings held their French lands as vassals of the King of France while ruling England in their own right. In theory their lands were part of the french kingdom, but in practice they belonged to end. Fighting over feudal claims went on for several centuries, but in the 14th centuries the trouble blazed into a national war that lasted over a hundred years. For a time war went badly for the French. Then Joan of Arc changed the course of event. leading the French in the defense of Orleans. She also recaptured the city of Reins where the French kings were crowned, making possible the coronation of the Dauphin, heir to the crown. The new King was lazy and did not follow up on the victories and later, the English captured Joan and burned her at the stake. According to legend, one of English soldiers. who had come rejoice at the death of an was heard to cry out, "We are lost we have burned a saint!" The English cause in cause was indeed lost. In the next few years, the French slowly drove back the invadered until only Calais. France remained remained in English hands. Calais, France was controlled by England until 1558. Where in England was the name Collier and var.) most prevalent in olden days. Where in the world is it most prevalent today? ROBERT COLEIRE de DARLASTON (c, 1453- c. 1505 Robert Coleire (Colyer, Collier) was born in France about 1453 and died in Staffordshire. England about 1505. He married lsabella Doddington, daughter of Sir John Doddington, about 1483. Robert Colleire (Colyer, Collier) came to England about 1482, long preceeding the arrival of other members of his family in CONGRESSIONAL LAND GRANTS 16 SEPTEMBER 1776 For Revolutionay War service (America Genealogical Research Institue, 1235 Kenilworth Ave. N E, Washigton, D C ) To a Colonel 500 acres To a Lieutenant Colonal 450 acres To a Major 400 acres To a Captain 300 acres To a Lieutenant 200 acres To a Ensign 150 acres To each Non-Com /enlisted 100 acres These land grant were for WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA and what later to become OHIO. Sincerely, Bob Collier |
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