Collins is a surname. There are many alternative spellings or related surnames.
The name may be derived from Coll or Colin, an English diminutive of the Greek name Nicholas; from the Irish word cuilein, meaning "darling"; from the Welsh collen, referring to a grove of hazel trees; or of the French colline, meaning "hill". It may be derived from "relative or son of Coileáin", and other meanings ascribed to it are "victory-people" or "puppy".
The earliest documented evidence of the name in England is in the 12th century. One Colinus de Andresia appears in the pipe rolls of Berkshire in 1191, while a Colinus is mentioned in Hartopp's "Register of the Freemen of Leicester" recorded in 1196.
In Ireland, Collins is one of the most common surnames, ranked number 30.
People with the surname Collins include:
A Aaron Collins (footballer) (born 1997), Welsh footballer Aaron Collins (singer) (1930–1997), American singer/songwriter A. E. J. Collins (1885–1914), English cricketer and army officer Aidan Collins (born 1986), English footballer Alan Collins (sculptor) (1928–2016), English-born sculptor Alan Collins (writer) (1928–2008), Australian-Jewish author Al and Albert Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Al "Jazzbo" Collins (1919–1997), American disc jockey, radio personality and recording artist Albert Collins (politician) (1868–1956), New South Wales politician Albert Collins (painter) (1883–1951), Australian painter, teacher and actor Albert Collins (footballer) (1899–1969), English footballer Albert Collins (1932–1993), American blues musician Albin Collins (1927–2006), American National Football League player Alex Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Alex Collins (politician) (1876–1949), Canadian politician Alex Collins (American football) (1994–2023), American football player Alexa Collins (born 1995), American influencer Alexander L. Collins (1812–1901), American judge, lawyer, and politician Alicia Collins, American politician Allan Collins (Australian rules footballer) (1919–2006) Allan M. Collins, cognitive and education scientist Allegra Collins (born 1972), American attorney, educator and judge Allen Collins (1952–1990), American guitarist Amelia Collins (1873–1962), prominent American Bahá'i An Collins, 17th-century English poet Andrew and Andy Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Andrew Collins (judge) (born 1942), English barrister and judge Andrew Collins (footballer, born 1965), Australian rules player for Hawthorn Andrew Collins (broadcaster) (born 1965), British journalist, scriptwriter and broadcaster Andrew Collins (cricketer) (1972–1999), English cricketer Andrew Collins (actor) (born 1973), British actor Andrew Collins (footballer, born 1988), Australian rules player for Carlton Andy Collins (TV presenter) (born 1970), British television personality Andy Collins (artist) (born 1971), American artist Andy Collins (game designer), role-playing game developer and "Sage" for Wizards of the Coast Ann, Anne and Annie Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Ann Collins (1916–1999), American painter Anne Fraser née Collins (born 1951), New Zealand politician Anne Collins (author) (born 1952), Canadian writer, editor and publishing executive Anne Collins (contralto) (1943–2009), English opera singer Annie Collins (born 19??), New Zealand film editor Anthony Collins (American football) (born 1985), American football player Anthony Collins (philosopher) (1676–1729), English philosopher Anthony Collins (composer) (1893–1963), British film score composer and conductor Anthony G. Collins (born 1949), Australian-American university president Art and Arthur Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Art Collins (basketball) (born 1954), American basketball player Arthur Collins (antiquarian) (1682–1760), English genealogist and historian Arthur Collins (politician) (1832–1921), New Zealand politician Arthur Collins (courtier) (1845–1911), English equerry in the courts of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII Arthur Collins (theatre manager) (1864–1932), manager of Drury Lane Theatre Arthur Collins (singer) (1864–1933), American singer Arthur L. Collins (1868–1902), British metallurgist, mining engineer and mine manager Arthur Collins (cricketer) (1871–1945), English cricketer Arthur Greville Collins (1896–1980), American film director Arthur Collins (rugby union) (1906–1988), New Zealand rugby union player Arthur A. Collins (1909–1987), founder of Collins Radio Arthur D. Collins Jr. (born 1947), chairman of Medtronic Arthur R. Collins (born 1960), American political consultant Ashley Collins (born 1967), American artist Audrey Collins (1915–2010), English cricketer and sports administrator Audrey B. Collins (born 1945), American District Judge
B Barbara-Rose Collins (1939–2021), American politician Barrie Collins, writer on the Rwandan genocide Beaux Collins (born 2002), American football player Becky Collins (born 1944), American swimmer Ben and Benjamin Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Ben Collins (American football) ( – 2014), American football player and coach Ben Collins (soccer, born 1961), Liberian soccer midfielder Ben Collins (racing driver) (born 1975), British racing driver Ben Collins (programmer), Debian Project Leader from January 1999 to March 2001 Ben Collins, American screenwriter Ben Collins (reporter), American journalist Benjamin Collins (cricketer, born 1820) (1820–1903), English cricketer Bernadette Collins, British strategy engineer from Northern Ireland Bernie Collins (1935–2018), Canadian politician Bianca Collins (born 1988), American actress Bill and Billy Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Bill Collins (catcher) (1863–1893), American baseball player on Cleveland Spiders' all-time roster Bill Collins (outfielder) (1882–1962), American baseball outfielder Bill Collins (footballer, born 1920) (1920–2010), aka Buster Collins, Northern Irish footballer Bill Collins (racecaller) (1928–1997), Australian racecaller Bill Collins (golfer) (1928–2006), American professional golfer Bill Collins (television presenter) (1934–2019), Australian film critic and television presenter Bill Collins (ice hockey) (born 1943), Canadian former ice hockey player Bill Collins (athlete) (born 1950), Masters athletics world record sprinter Billy Collins (Australian footballer) (1909–1987), Australian footballer for Melbourne Billy Collins (born 1941), American poet Bob and Bobby Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Bob Collins (footballer, born 1934) (1934–2018), Australian rules footballer for Footscray Bob Collins (broadcaster) (1942–2000), American broadcaster Bob Collins (politician) (1946–2007), Australian politician Bobby Collins (footballer) (1931–2014), Scottish footballer Bobby Collins (American football coach) (1933–2021), former American football coach Bobby Collins (comedian) (born 1951), American stand-up comedian and film actor Bobby Collins (basketball) (born 1966), American college basketball coach Bobby Collins (tight end) (born 1976), former tight end in the National Football League Bootsy Collins (born 1951), American funk bassist, singer and songwriter Brent Collins (1941–1988), American actor Brian Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Brian Collins (cricketer) (born 1941), former English cricketer Brian Collins (speedway rider) (born 1948), Scottish former motorcycle speedway rider Brian Collins (1970s singer) (born 1950), American country music artist Brian Collins (2010s singer), American country music artist Brian Todd Collins (born 1986), American rapper known as Kid Ink Brian Collins (designer), American designer and creative director Bridget Jean Collins, maiden name of American playwright Jean Kerr Bud Collins (1929–2016), American journalist
C Cal Collins (1933–2001), American jazz guitarist Calvin Collins (born 1974), American football guard Cardiss Collins (1931–2013), American politician Careena Collins (born 1967), American porn actress and director Carla Collins (born 1965), Canadian comedian, actress, TV host and writer Carr Collins Sr. (1892–1980), American businessman and philanthropist Catfish Collins (1943–2010), American guitarist, brother of Bootsy Collins Cecil Collins (artist) (1908–1989), British artist Cecil L. Collins (1926–2007), American politician Cecil Collins (football) (born 1976), American footballer and convicted burglar Chad Michael Collins (born 1979), American actor Charles and Charlie Collins (disambiguation), multiple people, including Charles Collins (painter) (–1744), Irish painter Charles James Collins (1820–1864), English journalist and novelist Charles Allston Collins (1828–1873), British Pre-Raphaelite artist Charles Collins (New South Wales politician) (1850–1898), New South Wales politician Charles Collins (ice hockey) (1882–1920), Canadian ice hockey player Charles Collins (actor) (1904–1999), American actor Charles E. Collins (American football), American football coach Charles E. Collins (politician) (1929–2012), independent candidate for U.S. president in 1996 and 2000 Charlie Collins (footballer) (born 1991), English footballer Charlie Collins (musician), Australian musician (female) Charlie Collins (politician) (born 1962), Arkansas politician Chris Collins (disambiguation), multiple people, including Chris Collins (New York politician) (born 1950), former U.S. Representative for New York's 27th congressional district Chris Collins (Virginia politician) (born 1971), member of the Virginia House of Delegates Chris Collins (soccer) (born 1956), American soccer player Chris Collins (Canadian politician) (born 1962), Canadian politician from New Brunswick Chris Collins (American musician), American musician, recording engineer/producer and technologist Chris Collins (Australian musician), Australian musician, recording engineer and producer Chris Collins (basketball) (born 1974), American basketball player and coach, son of Doug Collins Chris Collins (lacrosse) (born 1982), American lacrosse player Chris Collins (ice hockey) (born 1984), American ice hockey player Chris Collins (singer), American musician and former vocalist for the band now known as Dream Theater Chris Collins (writer), American television writer Christine Collins (rower) (born 1969), American rower Christopher Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Christopher Collins (cricketer) (1859–1919), English cricketer Christopher Collins (1949–1994), American actor, voice artist and comedian also known as Chris Latta Christopher Graham Collins (born 1957), birth name of the British comedian Frank Skinner Chuck Collins (American football) (1903–1977), American football player and coach Chuck Collins (born 1959), American author on economic matters Clara Stone Fields Collins (1908–1981), Alabama legislator Clarence Collins (born 1942), American musician, vocalist. Founder of R&B vocal group Little Anthony and the Imperials Claudine Collins (born 1968), English businesswoman Clifton Collins Jr. (born 1970), American actor Coi Leray Collins (born 1997), American rapper and singer Colm Collins, Gaelic football manager Con Collins (1881–1937), Irish politician Cora Sue Collins (1927–2025), American child actress Corey Collins (born 2001), American football player
D Dal Collins (1907–2001), South African cricket umpire Damian Collins (born 1974), British Conservative Party politician Dan, Daniel, Danielle and Danny Collins (disambiguation), multiple people Dan Collins (baseball) (1854–1883), baseball player Dan Collins (journalist), senior producer for CBS News.com Daniel Collins (priest) (died 1648) Canon of Windsor Daniel Collins (canoeist) (born 1970), Australian Olympic canoeist Danielle Collins (born 1993), American tennis player Danny Collins (footballer) (born 1980), Welsh footballer