Colin Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the Colin surname: its meaning, its roots in France, and its heraldry.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Colin coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Colin name
Colin is a pet form of Nicolas, from Greek Nikolaos, "victory of the people", made by dropping the first syllable. Saint Nicholas was hugely popular in Lorraine, where he is the patron saint, and Colin is especially common in Lorraine, Champagne and Burgundy. In Scotland and England, Colin is also a separate name.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Colin name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Colin name in France. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Belgium, Canada and Switzerland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Colin family history
The researched Colin pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Colin coat of arms.
Colin name FAQ
What does the Colin name mean?
Pet form of Nicolas. Common variants include Collin, Colinet, Collet.
Where does the Colin surname come from?
It originates in France, and is also found in Belgium, Canada and Switzerland.
Is there a Colin coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Colin crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Colin coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Albert Dauzat & Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).