UK surname
A surname potentially derived from a nickname meaning a lively or animated person.
In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Golly surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #24,561 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Mevagissey, St Ewe and St Mewan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Golly is 124 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 95.3%.
1881 census count
64
Ranked #24,561
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1891
124 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Golly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Golly surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 69 | #21,148 |
| 1861 | historical | 37 | #29,339 |
| 1881 | historical | 64 | #24,561 |
| 1891 | historical | 124 | #20,818 |
| 1901 | historical | 105 | #22,179 |
| 1911 | historical | 50 | #27,806 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Mevagissey, St Ewe, St Mewan, St Austell and Gorran. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mevagissey | Cornwall |
| 2 | St Ewe | Cornwall |
| 3 | St Mewan | Cornwall |
| 4 | St Austell | Cornwall |
| 5 | Gorran | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Golly surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Golly, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Golly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Golly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Golly is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Golly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Golly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Golly originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gol," which meant "golden" or "yellow-haired." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone with golden or yellow hair.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Golly date back to the 13th century. One notable example is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Golle. Another early record is the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a Robert Golly.
In the 14th century, the surname Golly appeared in various forms, such as Goley, Golye, and Golly, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that time. One example is found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1332, where a Thomas Goley is recorded.
The surname Golly is also associated with certain place names. For instance, there is a village called Golley in Wiltshire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Golly. One of the earliest was Sir John Golly (c. 1350-1420), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire during the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV.
Another notable figure was William Golly (c. 1480-1545), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the Tudor period. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1537.
In the 17th century, John Golly (1611-1668) was a renowned English botanist and physician. He published several influential works on plant taxonomy and medicinal herbs.
During the 18th century, Samuel Golly (1725-1795) was a respected English architect who designed numerous churches and public buildings in the Palladian style.
In the 19th century, Mary Golly (1842-1917) was a prominent educator and social reformer who campaigned for women's rights and the improvement of educational opportunities for girls.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Golly surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 55 Gollys recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.82x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Ewe in Cornwall leads with 14 Gollys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Ewe | 14 | 6666.67x |
| Gorran | 12 | 6000.00x |
| Mevagissey | 8 | 1702.13x |
| St Mewan | 8 | 3636.36x |
| St Austell | 7 | 289.26x |
| Wombwell | 6 | 333.33x |
| Creed | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Menheniot | 2 | 689.66x |
| Dundee | 1 | 4.63x |
| Esh | 1 | 74.07x |
| Madron Penzance | 1 | 38.91x |
| St Just In Roseland | 1 | 322.58x |
| Trull | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Golly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Golly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Golly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Clay Laborer | 3 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Fisherman | 2 |
| Labourer Agricultural | 2 |
| Shoe Maker | 2 |
| Agl Lab | 1 |
| Agl Lab Wife | 1 |
| Agr Lab | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Laborer Daur | 1 |
| Farm Laborer Wife | 1 |
| Fish Hawker | 1 |
| Governess (Sch Mitss) | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Labourers Widow | 1 |
| Mate (S) | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailor Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Golly surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Golly a modern rank of #38,594.
A surname potentially derived from a nickname meaning a lively or animated person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Golly bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.