UK surname
A name derived from several English villages, likely referring to a valley or hollow with a bridge.
In the 1881 census there were 120 people recorded with the Holcomb surname, ranking it #17,756 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #17,756 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, St Dunstan Stepney and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holcomb is 124 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.2%.
1881 census count
120
Ranked #17,756
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1861
124 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Holcomb surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Holcomb surname density by area, 1881 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 | 121 | #15,049 |
| 1861 | historical | 124 | #17,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 120 | #17,756 |
| 1891 | historical | 81 | #26,632 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 19 | #36,740 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, St Dunstan Stepney, Lambeth, St Giles Camberwell and Reigate. 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 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 2 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Reigate | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Holcomb 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 Holcomb, 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 Holcomb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Holcomb 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, Holcomb 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 Holcomb is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Holcomb, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Holcomb is of English origin, originating in the region of Devonshire during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "hol" meaning hollow or valley, and "cumb" meaning a deep valley or hollow between hills.
The name was likely given to someone who lived in or near such a geographical feature. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for places with similar names like "Holecumbe" and "Holcombe".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire from 1194, where a William de Holecumbe is listed as a landowner. In the 13th century, there are records of a John de Holcombe, whose descendants are believed to have adopted the surname Holcomb.
In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as "Holcomb", "Holcombe", and "Holcumb". During this time, a notable figure named William Holcomb (c. 1330-1395) was a wealthy merchant and landowner in the town of Tiverton, Devonshire.
Another prominent individual with the surname was Sir Thomas Holcomb (c. 1460-1525), a member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament for Somerset in the early 16th century.
In the 17th century, the Holcomb family had established itself in various parts of England, with branches in Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. One notable member from this period was Captain John Holcomb (c. 1620-1690), an English navigator and explorer who sailed to the West Indies and the American colonies.
As the centuries passed, the surname spread across the English-speaking world, with descendants of the Holcomb family settling in places like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Some other notable individuals with the surname include:
1. Amasa Holcomb (1787-1875), an American lawyer and politician from New York. 2. Henry Holcomb (1765-1836), an American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War. 3. William Holcomb (1804-1870), an American politician and businessman from Indiana. 4. Emily Holcomb (1852-1932), an American educator and advocate for women's rights. 5. Milton Holcomb (1889-1975), an American artist and illustrator known for his Western-themed paintings.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holcomb 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. Surrey leads with 35 Holcombs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 35 | 6.14x |
| Sussex | 22 | 11.15x |
| Middlesex | 18 | 1.54x |
| Somerset | 8 | 4.25x |
| Wiltshire | 8 | 7.73x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 2.92x |
| Angus | 4 | 3.69x |
| Berkshire | 4 | 4.55x |
| Cambridgeshire | 4 | 5.40x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 1.96x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.87x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.41x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.25x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.70x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reigate Foreign in Surrey leads with 13 Holcombs recorded in 1881 and an index of 210.70x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Reigate Foreign | 13 | 210.70x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 11 | 44.16x |
| Ifield | 8 | 975.61x |
| Bedhampton | 7 | 2500.00x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 6.86x |
| Madehurst | 7 | 8750.00x |
| Charlton | 6 | 2000.00x |
| Bedminster | 5 | 28.25x |
| Bermondsey | 5 | 14.35x |
| Croydon | 5 | 15.80x |
| Bromley London | 4 | 15.53x |
| Buscot | 4 | 2666.67x |
| Dundee | 4 | 9.88x |
| Llandaff | 4 | 59.00x |
| Charlwood | 3 | 545.45x |
| Chippenham | 3 | 1153.85x |
| Rusper | 3 | 1363.64x |
| Woolverton | 3 | 6000.00x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 2.68x |
| North Bradley | 2 | 263.16x |
| Slindon | 2 | 1000.00x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.12x |
| Bradninch | 1 | 144.93x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.51x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 1 | 27.03x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 3.47x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 34.48x |
| Holme Pierrepont | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Newmarket St Mary | 1 | 91.74x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 1 | 11.81x |
| Stapleton | 1 | 22.99x |
| Whitstable | 1 | 51.02x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Holcomb 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 Holcomb surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 120 people were recorded with the Holcomb surname. That placed it at #17,756 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Holcomb a modern rank of #36,760.
A name derived from several English villages, likely referring to a valley or hollow with a bridge.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Holcomb 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.