Show ContentsColgrave History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Colgrave

What does the name Colgrave mean?

The distinguished surname Colgrave is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It is made up of two elements, both derived from Old English: "col," meaning "cold," and "graf," meaning "grove" or "thicket." It is likely that the original bearer of the name was someone from the north who lived near a large or well-known grove.

Early Origins of the Colgrave family

The surname Colgrave was first found in Oxfordshire, where the name is thought to have first emerged. The earliest known bearer of the name was Geo Colgrave, who was married in Oxfordshire in 1566.

Early History of the Colgrave family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Colgrave research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1566, 1610, 1620, 1640, 1663, 1667, 1694, 1717, 1759, 1768 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Colgrave History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Colgrave Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Colgrove, Colgrave, Colegrove, Colegrave and others.

Early Notables of the Colgrave family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Thomas Colgrave (b. 1640), a well-known lieutenant colonel in the British army


Colgrave migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Colgrave Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles Colgrave, aged 54, who settled in St Louis, USA, in 1909
  • Kathleen Colgrave, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1911
  • Laurence Colgrave, aged 58, who immigrated to the United States, in 1911
  • Beatrice Colgrave, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1911
  • Alice Florence Colgrave, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from Rugby, England, in 1921

Colgrave migration to Australia +

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

Colgrave Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Colgrave, (b. 1803), aged 28, English ploughman who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Colgrave (post 1700) +

  • Felix Colgrave, American Topanga Film Festival Award winning animator, known for his work on TripTank (2014), Double King (2017) and Party Legends (2016)
  • Bertram Colgrave D. Litt. (1889-1968), Irish-born medieval historian, antiquarian and archaeologist who specialized in the lives of the early saints in Anglo-Saxon England
  • Jack Colgrave Hirst, American actor, known for Branagh Theatre Live: Romeo and Juliet (2016), The Terror (2018) and Stan Lee's Lucky Man (2016)
  • Kate Colgrave Pope, British actress, known for her work on Eastenders (2005)


The Colgrave 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: Fidei constants
Motto Translation: Steadfast in faith.


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden


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