| ![Show Contents]() Colclasure History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the bearers of the Colclasure family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Colchester, in Essex. The family name is taken from the place-name. However, there are no records of anyone named Colchester in that county. There are scant records extant on this family; they first appear in London in the 17th century. However, there is little doubt that the name is derived from the place-name in Essex. Early Origins of the Colclasure familyThe surname Colclasure was first found in Essex at Colchester, a borough and market-town, in the Colchester division of the hundred of Lexden. "This place, which by some antiquaries is supposed to have been the Camalodunum of the Romans, derives its name either from its having been one of the Coloniæ established by that people in Britain, or from its situation on the river Colne. It was called by the Britons Caer Colun, and appears to have been a town of considerable importance prior to the invasion of the Romans." 1 However, we must look to Scotland to find the first listing of the family; for it is there that "William de Collecester, canon (probably of Holyrood), witnessed an Inchcolm charter, a. 1199. An Englishman, probably, from Colchester." 2 Peter d Colechurch (d. 1205), was "architect of old London Bridge, chaplain of St. Mary Colechurch. The first stone bridge over the Thames was begun by him in 1176. He died in 1205, and was buried in the chapel on the bridge dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury." 3 Early History of the Colclasure familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Colclasure research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Colclasure History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Colclasure Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Colclasure include Colchester, Colechester and others. Early Notables of the Colclasure familyMore information is included under the topic Early Colclasure Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Colclasure familySearching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Colclasure or a variant listed above: Anne Colchester who settled in Virginia in 1637 with her two sisters Jane and Joan.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
 |
England
Scotland
