Origin of Surname
The Christian name was a pet name for Nicolas and developed as a surname. The name is found more in Guernsey than Jersey.
Collas appears in the Extente of 1528.
Early records
- Nicolas Vulgo dictus Colas, 1492
- Johanne Collas (1492- ) St Ouen m Helier de Carteret (1480- )
- John Collas (1568- ) m (1596) Jane RIchardson, d of Jean and Isabel Le Marquand
Payne's Armorial of Jersey
One of the most ancient houses of Britany is that of Collas, Seigneurs de I'Espine. At the disastrous battle of St Aubin-du-Cormier, Gratian Collas, of this family, being grievously wounded, was one among the many Bretons whose only safety lay in flight. He found, however, time and opportunity to carry with him his wife, and also some of his wealth, and, crossing over to the opposite coast of Jersey, took refuge in the parish of Saint Martin.
There, on 15 September 1490, he purchased, conjointly with Appaulina, his wife, the Maison de St Martin. As a striking instance of the integrity and simple faith of the islanders at that time, it may be mentioned that the contract referred to above was merely read at the foot of the high cross in the parish churchyard, which rendered the purchase valid. However, 20 years afterwards, it was deemed right to register the sale in the form of a deed, sealed with the broad seal of the island, and countersealed by Nicholas de Hamptonne, then Lieut-Bailly; which deed is still extant in the family.
From this spot the family has never removed, and the house, although rebuilt, occupies the site of its veteran predecessor. [1]
Coat of arms
Arms : Argent, a double-headed eagle, displayed, with wings inverted, sable, armed gules. Quartering: Or, on a mound in base vert, a holly-bush ppr; a bordure, sable, entoyre of eight mullets of six points, pierced of the first, for Bisson; gules, three mullets, or, for Hamptonne; or, three cherries, gules, stalked vert, for Messervy; or, three leaves, vert, for Anquetil; gules, four fusils conjoined in fesse, argent, a mullet for difference, for De Carteret.
Crest : A plain cross, or
Motto : Crux, spes imica
Variations
- Colas
- Collas
Family records
Family trees
- Descendants of Gratien Collas
- Descendants of Moise Collas (1639)
- Descendants of George Collas
- Descendants of Jean Collas
- Descendants of Luquas Collas
- Descendants of Charles Collas Added 2021
- Descendants of Jean Collas and Jeanne Machon Added 2021
Church records
- Collas baptisms in Jersey
- Collas marriages in Jersey (groom)
- Collas marriages in Jersey (bride)
- Collas burials in Jersey
Great War service
Occupation records
Family wills
Burial records
Family businesses
J F Collas, coal merchant in Craig Street in 1859. This was Jean Francois, son of George and Elizabeth Valpy, of St Saviour
Family album

Miss Collas photographed by Henry Mullins
A Collas family outing at West Park in 1957
A family outing to Devil's Hole in 1958
Edmund Blampied, William Collas and Lady Coutanche
Family gravestones
Click on any image to see a larger version. See the Jerripedia gravestone image collection page for more information about our gravestone photographs
Tips
The church record links above will open in a new tab in your browser and generate the most up-to-date list of each set of records from our database. These lists replace earlier Family page baptism lists, which were not regularly updated. They have the added advantage that they produce a chronological listing for the family name in all parishes, so you do not have to search through A-Z indexes, parish by parish.
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New records
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Notes and references
- ↑ St Martin's House, as it became known, was sold by the Collas family in the 20th century