UK surname
Of Czech origin, indicating someone from the village of Hola or a shortening of a longer place name.
In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Holan surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #30,215 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holan is 131 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.
1881 census count
24
Ranked #30,215
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1861
131 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Holan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Holan surname density by area, 1891 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 131 | #17,052 |
| 1881 | historical | 24 | #30,215 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 44 | #28,454 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey. 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 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 2 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 3 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 4 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| 5 | St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Holan 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 Holan, 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 Holan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Holan 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, Holan 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 Holan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Holan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Holan has its origins in the Czech Republic, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Old Czech word "hola," which means "bare" or "desolate." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a sparsely populated or barren area.
The earliest known record of the name Holan appears in a manuscript from the town of Holesov, located in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, in the year 1368. The document mentions a man named Vaclav Holan, who was a landowner in the area.
In the 15th century, the name Holan was found in various records from the regions of Bohemia and Moravia, which were part of the Kingdom of Bohemia at the time. One notable example is a record from the town of Kutna Hora, which mentions a merchant named Jan Holan in 1482.
The name Holan has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Vaclav Holan (1605-1675), a Bohemian scholar and writer who authored several works on philosophy and theology. Another prominent Holan was Vilem Holan (1781-1847), a Czech composer and musician who was active during the Romantic period.
In the 20th century, one of the most famous bearers of the name was the Czech poet Vladimir Holan (1905-1980). He was a leading figure in the Avant-garde movement and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature multiple times.
Other notable individuals with the surname Holan include Karel Holan (1926-2000), a Czech actor and director who appeared in numerous films and television shows, and Milos Holan (1942-2015), a Czech painter and sculptor known for his abstract and surrealist works.
While the name Holan is relatively uncommon outside of the Czech Republic, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, from landowners and merchants to artists and intellectuals.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holan 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. Renfrewshire leads with 9 Holans recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.60x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Renfrewshire | 9 | 59.60x |
| Durham | 2 | 3.45x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.87x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 4.07x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 1.04x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 6.86x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 42.19x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.51x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Greenock in Renfrewshire leads with 7 Holans recorded in 1881 and an index of 258.30x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Greenock | 7 | 258.30x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 12.21x |
| Leeds | 2 | 18.35x |
| Port Glasgow | 2 | 273.97x |
| Tudhoe | 2 | 392.16x |
| Ardrossan | 1 | 200.00x |
| Bury | 1 | 37.88x |
| Maryculter | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Spotland | 1 | 38.91x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 50.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Holan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Holan surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Holan a modern rank of #36,324.
Of Czech origin, indicating someone from the village of Hola or a shortening of a longer place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Holan 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.