Collins, also sometimes found as Cullane or O’Cullane, is one of the most common surnames in Munster. It originates from the sept of Ó Coileáin, which extended from County Cork to south Limerick. The name itself is thought to come from the Irish coileán, meaning a whelp or a young dog. In the 13th century, the Ó Coileáins were chased southward into Cork after losing a war with the Geraldines and settled near their kinsmen, the Ó Cuilleáins. It is not unlikely that both these names derive from the Irish diminutive of cú, or hound, which we well know from the most famous of Irish hounds, the Hound of Ulster, Cú Chulainn.
Both Ó Coileáin and Ó Cuilleáin were eventually anglicized to Collins, which was an existing English surname, so the number of Collinses around the world is pretty staggering. Although the surname is itself a diminutive (and the English Collins is actually a double diminutive, from the medieval nickname “Col” for Nicholas, which became Colin, little Col), the Collinses of history have little reason to be called pups.
Jerome Collins (1841–1881) was the founder of Clan na Gael and was an early 19th century Arctic explorer. The astronaut Eileen Collins (b. 1956) was the first female pilot and commander of a space shuttle and has graced the cover of this magazine on more than one occasion. But she’s not the only astronaut by the name of Collins. Irish-American astronaut Michael Collins (b. 1930) commanded the Apollo 11 module while Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong moonwalked, prompting the 1970 Jethro Tull song “For Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me,” about being left behind.
Another American Collins, Susan Collins (b. 1952), is the senior Senator from Maine and has been described by Time as one of “the last survivors of a once common species of moderate Northeastern Republican.” She is currently the chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (and is not to be confused with Suzanne Collins, the best-selling author of the Hunger Games trilogy).
The earliest Collins of note is the Irish language poet Seán Ó Coileáin (anglicized as John Collins) (1754–1817), best known for the famous poem “Machtnamh an Duine Dhoilíosaigh” (translated as “Lament Over Timnoleague Abbey”) in the 18th century. A poet who merged romanticism with Gaelic traditions, Ó Coileáin was a favorite to translate by later Anglo-Irish writers like Samuel Ferguson and James Clarence Mangan. Continuing with artist Collinses, Judy Collins (b. 1939), on this issue’s cover, is one of the best-known songwriters and folk musicians of the 20th century, associating with Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen, among many others, in New York’s Greenwich Village folk scene from the early 1960s onward.
Billy Collins (b. 1941), dubbed by the New York Times in 1999 as “the most popular poet in America,” was U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001-2003 and New York State Poet Laureate from 2004-2006. His short ode for the centennial of Grand Central Terminal, “Grand Central,” can currently be read inside many New York City subway cars as part of the MTA’s Poetry in Motion program.
Returning to Irish-born Collinses, Michael Collins (b. 1953) is the current Ambassador to the United States. Educated at Blackrock College and Trinity College, he entered the Dept. of Foreign Affairs in 1974. Tommy Collins (b. 1957) is a filmmaker and producer born in Co. Donegal and raised in Derry. His 2007 film Kings, Ireland’s first bi-lingual feature film, was nominated for a record 14 Irish Film and Television Awards and won five, including Best Irish Language Film.
The eldest of three William Collinses, born in Co. Wicklow in 1740, was an art dealer and biographer of the famous English painter George Morland after emigrating to England. His son William Collins (1788-1847) informally studied under Morland and became one of the most popular pre-romantic landscape painters of 19th-century England. William Collins III better known as Wilkie Collins (1824–1889), was a novelist, essayist, playwright, and short story writer who penned more than 200 works, most notably The Woman in White (1859), which has been adapted for TV roughly once every 20 years by the BBC since 1957. He is also the namesake for Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker’s son, James Wilkie Broderick.
Contemporary author Michael Collins (b. 1964) was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize for his book The Keepers of Truth.
This brings us to the most famous Michael Collins of all, and perhaps the most famous of all the Irish Collinses. Defying the etymology of his surname, “The Big Fella” of Fine Gael (1890–1922) was definitely no whelp in stature or politics, commanding troops in the Irish War for Independence and the Irish Civil War before being killed in an ambush in 1922.
If there is a theme among these Collinses, it’s the one stated at the outset: from the A train to the Arctic, from the Senate to the stars, the Clann na t-Ó Coileáin (or Clann na t-Ó Cuilleáin, depending) aren’t diminutive in the slightest.
The Collins Arms shield, not crest, is shown above. The two lions rampant represent the two ancient kings from whom the Collins of Ireland descend.
Any relationship with The Family’s of George Harvey Collins
What are the names of these kings?
What is the difference between the shield and the Collins Ctest? My granddaughter is doing a project and I’d love to know our family crest. I married a Collins and have cousins that are Collins but no relation. My father in law was one of 17. Ty
Who were the 2 kings?
Any chance of a get together? In the North East?
Hello aidan lee quinn my mother Jeanie lee lacroix&$ I don’t no sarnia Ontario Canada
I was told that most of our bloodline is Native American and that we should rent a stadium and have a reunions there is a lot of Collins in The USA
Haha, surprisingly enough, I’m a Collins in the U.S. who is also of Native American heritage!
I’m also a US born Collins with a great grandmother who was full Cherokee lol
Hey Amanda saw this today it’s Johnny!
Collins from Ireland mostly Munster. We go from South Limerick to County Cork. No native American in Collins but maybe from other side of family
I’m a Collins in Limerick, haven’t moved far lol. Where are you?
I’m a Collins in the USA but traced bloodlines to Ireland and have cousins in Munster.
I’m a Collins also.My grandfather was Thomas Collins.He was 1 of 16 children.He came to America in the 1940s
My great grandfather, came to the USA in 1848 from County Cork, Ireland. They resided in Pennsylvania and moved to Pensacola, Florida. His name was James Patrick Collins, born 1847 in County Cork. I would love to visit an see if there are any relatives still there.
I’m a Collins in USA.I would love to know some family over in Ireland.My Grandparents are from Donoughmore,Cork.Their names are Collins and Sexton.????
Yes we should my grandma was native 100%
Definitely have native American if your ancestors were around or traveled to eastern Kentucky. There was so much information documented and the info that is available isn’t really organized to be user friendly. This doesn’t count what was lost throughout time which leaves gaps making things hard to trace. Plus if they were being classified as melungeons in certain parts of KY, finding out they were Native American may not even be listed as I’ve seen melungeon documented as a race/ethnicity.
My grandfather’s mother was a Collins he said her family was from the county of cork. He also has pictures of his grandmother as a baby with her parents and sibling after arriving here in the U.S. always wanted to know what our crest looked like.
My great great grandfather was from COUNTY Cork He immigrated to the US IN 1880 ..WITH HIS MOTHER he had 6 six in NYC
My grandfather’s name was John Henry Collins , I have been trying to put together a family tree but I haven’t been able to get past him , he passed away in 1954 and I can’t find much information as to his father’s name…I believe my grandfather was born between 1895 and 1900 , I never met him I was born in 1958 , my dad James was born in 1927 he was about 90 % Irish so if by chance anyone may have known of a John Henry Collins I could use some information.. thanks
Where is your Dad from in the United States? There is a John Henry Collins born 1898 in Georgia. Had a Thomas and Albert as his sons. Try Family Search. Set up a free account and start putting in any and all information you have thus far
Hope this helps!
My Grandmother was Cherokee Indian and my grandfather name is Henry Collins I guess my Grandmother cheated or was separated from her husband My Mom was born it was a hush hush kind of deal my Mom was born in Mississippi Not sure if it was a hush hush kind of thing I’d really love to find out my Mom Dad side of the family
I am a collins my grandfather was born in 1902 he was from Cuba came to Jamaica as a soldier and stayed here .I am a Jamaican
Wow interesting read I am half Irish American and a Collins. And I know that most of my Collins roots are based out of Dublin Ireland. So this really was quite interesting.
I’m from the United States of America in Oregon. But I did a DNA test and it says I’m Scotts-irish-english. That is the Collins heritage
I am in the US and working on my many Collins lines. I have DNA tested many family members. I have a few lines that connect to Ireland, England , would love to get my lines straightened out. I do connect to the Muleungeon Collins families of the TN and KY areas and am trying to prove they connect to the Lumbee Indians of Pee Dee area SC leading back further to Ireland. We are on my Heritage, 23 and me, gedmatxh and other sires. I also have many Colllins matches on my maternal German side.
Do alot of people with the last name collins have blue eyes?
Speaking personally Michael – yes!
Personally.. kind of. My eyes are a bit strange. I have hazel eyes that are blue, green and grey.. they change color.
Hazel/blue/green/brown depending on the season!
I concur
I sure as hell do. Lol
No not true I have brown eyes
I understand lineage is one of the ways to get dual citizenship in Ireland. How many generations removed from emigration are allowed for this? My great great grandfather John Collins and his wife Johanna (Rooney) Collins came to Wisconsin from County Cork in the 1840’s
Hi,
I’m doing research on the Collins family who settled in Denmark Wis. Is this your branch??
Did your great great Grandfather live in Wisconsin ?
I am a descendant of James Peyton Collins, born Jan. 11, 1816 in or near Oglethorpe, GA. It is reported that he was married to Susanah Biggers Patman, born Nov 7, 1814. I am a seventh generation descendant and looking for extend my knowledge of our linage.
Im a Collins in the sw united states
I’m a collins in NC , United States . I was born and raised in South Carolin , my father is Thomas Lee Collins, grandfather Robert Lee Collins , and was always told that our family descended from Ireland . My mother is half Cherokee , her father and his mother and father were born on what is now the Cherokee Indian reservation.
As am I. I’m in the S/W U. S. & Live in New Mexico in the S/W
My name is Tom Collins and I have hit a wall trying to determine my lineage through ancestry.com. There is a William H Collins, born 1836, probably in McMinnville Tennessee, and my Dad was named for him. McMinnville, Tennessee, was burned to the ground in 1863 so records were destroyed that would have told of births, land ownership, marriages, etc. The surname Collins, was prominent in the McMinnville Tennessee area as evidenced by Collins River, Collins Bridge, Collins Road. Clearly, Collins family members did live in McMinnville at one time. My dad and my third Great Granddad were both named William Collins so with such a common name, it has been very difficult to determine my ancestry. Can anyone help?
My Grandmother & Grandfather moved from the Tennessee & Virginia border area. I was there once as a little kid with my Grandmother & Grandfather the to visit our kin. There was a mountain named “high nob or nob hill” both
Great Grandfather’s came here from county Cork & were kin to Michael Collins as well as William Collins. If this fits let me know
Why is Dr. Francis Collins not mentioned in this article. They did a show on Root about his Sellers line and an ancestor named Doughty, but never mentioned the name Collins. Is this prejudice?
My grandfather name was Frederick Tom Collins. His father’s name was Thomas Collins (my great grandfather).
Fred was born out of wedlock. His father met Mary Waller at Southampton, England. They were dating but never married. Thomas left her didn’t know she was pregnant at that time.
Fred has blond hair and blue eyes. There are genetic of Scoliosis in Collins family. Just my aunt and uncle. But my mom and her sister and brother didn’t have it. There are 5 siblings. Their father passed away at young 47 yrs old with heart disease ( had a hole in his heart that they couldn’t operate on him in January 1952.
I’m a Collins.My grandfather was 1 of 16.My 18 year old daughter has scoliosis
Information passed down tell of two Collins sisters leaving Ireland around 1840’s or 50’s and landing on Mobile, Alabama. One named Bridgett. born in 1820’s and her sister Elizabeth in the mid 1840’s. Elizabeth was my great grandmother on my mother’s side. Elizabeth would have been a great aunt. They were from County Kildare, Ireland. Both were Roman Catholic and both married in Mississippi. Both are buried in Mississippi. Would appreciate any information about the Collins family of Kildare during the early to mid 1800’s to help me better know my Irish heritage.
Error: my great grandmother’ name was correct – Her name was Elizabeth Collins and she was married to Benjamin Meador of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. I misstated her name. She was the oldest of these two sisters and her name was Bridgette. I was told they landed in Mobile, in the 1850’s. She is buried in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Her husband’s last name was Rushing. Surely would appreciate any information on these ladies.
I am a Collins living in the U.S. Arkansas to be exact. My Grandfather was Leon Collins and Grandmother Bessie. Her mother was a McQuarrie. I dont think I spelled that right. Anyway, have always been interested in my heritage as well. One was from the line of Blackfoot Indian and the other from Osage.
HI! I’m from California and am trying to find out where my Collins family heritage comes from in Ireland.
My Grandfather was John Mott Collins, His father was John Thomas Collins and His father’s father was Thomas Collins. The best lead I have is that Thomas and Anora Collins, my great great grand parents, lived in Camden, Schuyler, Illinois, United States in the 1850 census. It says they were both born in Ireland, but doesn’t say where. They have 3 children at that time, Thomas, Anora and Mary.
I live in Manistee County Michigan.. My grandfather’s name was Ira Collins. I understand he was living in Akron, Ohio then moved to Mason County Michigan. His dads name was John Collins. Ira had a son, Roy, from his first marriage, who moved to Washington State. We hope to find Roy’s family on ancestry.
HELLO, ONE OF MY ANCESTORS WAS BORN A COLLINS — CLARA? COLLINS, STATE OF WA. SHE MARRIED INTO THE O’CONNOR FAMILY, NASELLE WA. — MOSTLY BOYS: WILLIAM, THOMAS, KATHERINE, FRANCIS, CHARLES AND CONSTANCE GENEVIEVE . KATHERINE MARRIED HERB OLSON AND CONTINUED LIVING IN THE STATE OF WA. SHE AND HERB RAISED THREE CHILDREN.
MY NAME IS CLAIRE ANTOINETTE KIENOW ARENZ — BORN IN 1941.I LIVE IN PORTLAND OR 97229
I am james Chad Collins looking for from where my family originated in Ireland. Any help would be appreciated. I want to go to Ireland and see it first hand. My cousin went years ago and brought back the family crest with lions the pelican shield the family crest. I want to go. I really want to find out. Thanks you
I’m from the Collins clan of WV, full of blonds and red heads, but my Grandmother on my mom’s side was of Cherokee heritage…I cherish my Appalachian culture????
If any relatives were or are from east Kentucky, Pike county etc. We are probably related somehow
Both my maternal great grandparents were Collins surnamed. Grandma was Irish. Grandpa was Cherokee, according to family story. Lived in Missouri and relatives in Oklahoma. Henry Thomas Collins lived in Willow Springs , Missouri. Anyone know about this family?
I’m the granddaughter of Wesley Fate Collins in East Tennessee. My father was adopted by William David Messer and his wife Ada May Garner Messer. My father’s name was changed at the adoption 1927 in Knoxville TN. His mother, Gladys abandoned the family and I guess, Wesley had no choice but to adopt my father, (Mayford Messer) out to the Messers. My grandfather had ruddy tanned skin with black hair and hazel eyes. My father had dark auburn black hair and blue eyes with ruddy skin color and tan. I don’t know much about his mother, Gladys. I’ve been told by family members who are now deceased that there was Cherokee in the family, but I’m not sure. I would like to know more about my heritage if anyone knows anything else. Thank you.