Colly Name Meaning, Origin and Heraldry

Genealogists group Colly with Colley. The name is generally explained as “A pet form of Nicholas, or a nickname for dark colouring”. Without the “e” of Colley, Colly is a simpler written form of the same name. Related forms: Collie.

From 1891 to 2000, 567 births in France were registered under Colly. Births ran at 25 in 1891–1900 and 59 in 1991–2000. Names that sound alike, such as Coll and Coley, are easily confused in old records.

There is no single Colly family crest for every bearer. Herald Lab researches the arms historically associated with the name and explains whose they were. For the full story, order the Colly surname pack.