Contents [hide]

Collyer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Collyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Collyer is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a person who made or sold charcoal. The surname Collyer is derived from the Old English word col, which means coal; as such it is thought to have originally been an occupational name for a burner of charcoal or a gatherer or seller of coal. 1

Early Origins of the Collyer family

The surname Collyer was first found in Lancashire where one of the first records of the name was Ranulf Colier listed there in 1150. A few years later, Bernard le Coliere was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1172. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 revealed: Henry le Colyer in Buckinghamshire; Robert le Coliere in Bedfordshire; and Thomas le Colier in Huntingdonshire. Over one hundred years later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls list: Adam Colier; and Benedictus Colier. 2

Early History of the Collyer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Collyer research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1350, 1622, 1650, 1656, 1677, 1678, 1680, 1685, 1699, 1708, 1726, 1730, 1732 and 1786 are included under the topic Early Collyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Collyer Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Collyer include Collier, Collyer, Colier, Colyer, Colyar, Colyear and many more.

Early Notables of the Collyer family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Alexander Colyear (d. circa 1685), who was made the 1st Baronet Colyear of Holland in 1677; Giles Collier (1622-1678), an English divine; and David Colyear (c.1656-1730), who was created 1st Earl of Portmore in 1699.Arthur Collier (1680-1732), was an English philosopher and "metaphysician, born 12 Oct. 1680 at Langford Magna, Wiltshire, a family living which had been held by his great-grandfather. His grandfather, Henry Collier, succeeded and was ejected under the Commonwealth. Two of Henry Collier's sons were transported to Jamaica for their share in Penruddocke's rising at Salisbury. " 3Jeremy Collier...
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Collyer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Collyer family to Ireland

Some of the Collyer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Collyer migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Collyer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Collyer, who landed in New England in 1660 4
Giles Collyer, who arrived in Maryland in 1670 4
Alice Collyer, who landed in Maryland or Virginia in 1672 4
Ann Collyer, who arrived in Maryland or Virginia in 1672 4
Robert Collyer, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Collyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Isabell Collyer, who landed in Virginia in 1706 4

Collyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert H Collyer, aged 25, who arrived in Missouri in 1839 4
W C Collyer, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
George Collyer, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1854 4

Collyer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Collyer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Stephen Collyer, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
Stephen Collyer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairlee" in 1840 6
Ann Collyer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairlee" in 1840 6
Edward Collyer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairlee" in 1840 6
Henry Collyer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairlee" in 1840 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Collyer migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Collyer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. C Collyer, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bandicoot" arriving in New Zealand in 1846 7
Mr. E. H. Collyer, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Northfleet" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in February 1854 7
Mr. George Collyer, (b. 1833), aged 41, English settler from Surrey travelling from London aboard the ship "Sussex" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th July 1874 8
Mrs. Emma A. Collyer, (b. 1835), aged 39, English settler from Surrey travelling from London aboard the ship "Sussex" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th July 1874 8
Miss Frances E. Collyer, (b. 1859), aged 15, English settler from Surrey travelling from London aboard the ship "Sussex" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th July 1874 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Collyer (post 1700) +

John Lyon Collyer (1893-1979), American Chairman of the Cornell University Board of Trustees (1953-1959), awarded the Medal for Merit in 1946
Sam Collyer (1842-1904), French-born, American lightweight bare-knuckle boxer and soldier who received the Medal of Honor
Laurie Collyer (b. 1967), American Golden Globe nominated film director
June Collyer (1906-1968), born Dorothea Heermance, an American film actress of the 1920s and 1930s
Robert Collyer (1823-1912), English-born American Unitarian clergyman
Chad Collyer (b. 1974), American professional wrestler and mentalist
Bud Collyer (1908-1969), born Clayton Johnson Heermance, Jr., an American radio actor and announcer, the first host of the TV game show To Tell the Truth, best known as the voice of Superman on radio and in animated shorts
William Bengo Collyer (1782-1854), English minister of the Congregational Church and religious writer, the only surviving child of Thomas Collyer, a builder of Deptford 9
Joseph Collyer the Younger (1748-1827), English engraver, an associate of the Royal Academy and portrait engraver to the British Queen Consort, Queen Charlotte 9
Mary Collyer (1716-1762), née Mitchell, an English translator and novelist 9
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Collyer family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Percy W L Collyer (b. 1923), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Woking, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 10

RMS Titanic

Mr. Harvey Collyer (d. 1912), aged 31, English Second Class passenger from Bishopstoke, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 11
Miss Marjorie Charlotte "Lottie" Collyer, aged 8, English Second Class passenger from Bishopstoke, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 14 11

The Collyer Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nemo sine cruce beatus
Motto Translation: No one is happy but by the cross.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) FAIRLIE/FAIRLEE 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Fairlie.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html