Surname Colclough - Meaning and Origin
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Colclough: What does the surname Colclough mean?
The last name Colclough is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from a place name in Staffordshire, England. The name is a combination of two Old English elements: "col," which means "charcoal" and "clough," which means "ravine" or "steep valley.” So, the original bearer of the name was likely someone who lived near a ravine where charcoal was made or possibly a worker in a charcoal pit. The name may also represent a habitational surname denoting someone from areas known as Colclough in Staffordshire and Cheshire. The first known recordings of the name date back to the 13th century in county records. Like many other surnames, variations in spelling over time and across regions include Colclough, Colcloh, and Colclowe among others.
Order DNA origin analysisColclough: Where does the name Colclough come from?
The surname Colclough is of English origin, specifically from the region of Staffordshire. The name is derived from the Old English elements 'col', meaning charcoal, and 'clough', meaning ravine or steep valley, hence suggesting that the original bearers were dwellers or workers in such a location.
The family’s roots can be traced back to the medieval lord of Colclough, Robert de Colclough, who lived during the 12th and 13th centuries. Notably, Thomas Colclough, a prominent figure in the family, was granted Tintern Abbey in Ireland by Queen Elizabeth I in the late 16th century, thus establishing the Colcloughs as important landowners in that part of the country.
Today, the surname Colclough is still predominantly found in England, particularly within the areas of Cheshire and Staffordshire. However, due to historic migration, the name has spread to other parts of the British Isles, particularly Ireland, and overseas, notably to North America and Australia.
Variations of the surname Colclough
The surname Colclough originated in Northern England, where it comes from the Old English "col," meaning dark or black, and "clough," a slope or ravine. Variations of this surname suggest regionality and are reflective of pronunciation and transcription errors when the surname was first documented.
Variations and alternate spellings may include Colclo, Coldclough, Coolclough, Collclough, Colchough, Coalclough, Coleclogh, Collough, Collect, Colclouch, Colcluff, Colclogh, and Colclow. Some of these variants might have evolved over time due to changes in the English language as well as individual preferences.
Surnames of the same origin as Colclough include Coates and Colby, as they also possess elements derived from geographical features. Moreover, certain surnames like Clough, Cluff and Cluffe, drawn from the same Old English root, are also intimately related.
In Ireland, especially in County Wexford, the anglicised version of the Gaelic surname Mac Coiligh, yields Mac Colclough and has seen some fusion with the English surname Colclough.
Thus, Colclough and its variants are intrinsically tied to landscapes, medieval vernacular, and linguistic transformations across time and space.
Famous people with the name Colclough
- Kara Tointon: English Actress and Television Presenter
- Clive Colclough: Former Olympic Swimming Champion
- Neil Colclough: English Artist
- Mark Colclough: Major League Baseball Player
- Michael Colclough: Singer and Songwriter
- Don Colclough: American NASCAR Racecar Driver and Team Owner
- Larry Colclough: Professional Baseball Player
- Dean Colclough: Professional Soccer Player
- Jack Colclough: Former Professional Football Player
- Charles Colclough: English Painter