NameCensus.

UK surname

Hold

A surname derived from an English word meaning to own, possess, or keep.

In the 1881 census there were 210 people recorded with the Hold surname, ranking it #12,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 334, ranked #13,640, down from #12,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cawthorne, Silkstone and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Conwy, Allerdale and Warrington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hold is 393 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.0%.

1881 census count

210

Ranked #12,440

Modern count

334

2016, ranked #13,640

Peak year

1891

393 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hold had 210 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016, ranked #13,640.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 393 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Hold surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hold surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hold surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hold over time

The 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 326 #7,814
1881 historical 210 #12,440
1891 historical 393 #8,995
1901 historical 292 #11,861
1911 historical 315 #11,050
1997 modern 359 #11,956
1998 modern 345 #12,649
1999 modern 350 #12,609
2000 modern 340 #12,824
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 350 #12,620
2003 modern 331 #12,944
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 316 #13,351
2006 modern 332 #12,970
2007 modern 322 #13,382
2008 modern 313 #13,746
2009 modern 324 #13,689
2010 modern 330 #13,786
2011 modern 321 #13,940
2012 modern 322 #13,799
2013 modern 332 #13,713
2014 modern 335 #13,720
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 334 #13,640

Geography

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Where Holds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cawthorne, Silkstone, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Lambeth and Floore. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Conwy, Allerdale and Warrington. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Cawthorne Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Floore Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Conwy 002 Conwy
2 Allerdale 009 Allerdale
3 Warrington 023 Warrington
4 Conwy 001 Conwy
5 Conwy 003 Conwy

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hold

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hold surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hold

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hold, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Hold surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hold household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hold is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hold is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hold falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hold is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hold, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hold

The surname Hold originated in England in the late medieval period, likely deriving from the Old English word "holde" or "hold," which referred to a small valley or hollow. It is believed that the name was initially used to identify people who resided in or near such geographical features.

The earliest known record of the Hold surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is spelled "de la Holde." This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, referring to someone from a specific place called "the Holde."

In the 14th century, the surname is found in various records with different spellings, such as "Holde," "Holt," and "Holte." These variations likely arose from regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling at the time.

One notable early bearer of the Hold surname was William Hold, a merchant and alderman in the City of London, who lived in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in several records from that period, including the Letter Books of the City of London.

In the 16th century, the Hold surname spread throughout England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. During this time, several notable individuals bore the name, including John Hold, a Member of Parliament for Nottingham in 1572, and Robert Hold, a prominent landowner in Yorkshire in the late 1500s.

The Hold surname also has connections to various place names in England, such as Holderness in Yorkshire, which may have influenced the development of the name in certain regions.

Other notable individuals with the Hold surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Hold (c. 1605-1679), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. 2. William Hold (1760-1831), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits. 3. John Hold (1785-1858), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. 4. Mary Hold (1802-1876), an English writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and prose. 5. Charles Hold (1848-1924), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

While the Hold surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period and continues to be found throughout various regions of the country and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hold families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hold surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 39 Holds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 39 1.92x
Durham 26 4.27x
Surrey 25 2.50x
Northamptonshire 22 11.42x
Middlesex 19 0.93x
Leicestershire 13 5.72x
Devon 9 2.11x
Wiltshire 9 4.97x
Somerset 8 2.43x
Derbyshire 6 1.87x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.17x
Lancashire 5 0.21x
Norfolk 5 1.59x
Kent 4 0.57x
Hampshire 2 0.48x
Suffolk 2 0.80x
Bedfordshire 1 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.81x
Cornwall 1 0.43x
Glamorgan 1 0.28x
Gloucestershire 1 0.25x
Shropshire 1 0.57x
Staffordshire 1 0.14x
Sussex 1 0.29x
Warwickshire 1 0.19x
Worcestershire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 14 Holds recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.84x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 14 7.84x
Weedon Beck 10 724.64x
Cawthorne In Wortley 8 975.61x
Stockton On Tees 8 27.23x
Barnsley 7 33.43x
Bishopwearmouth 7 13.38x
Batley 6 31.10x
Bethnal Green London 6 6.74x
Hinckley 6 111.32x
Humberstone 6 320.86x
Newington 6 7.93x
Nottingham St Mary 6 8.40x
Whittington 6 135.14x
Linthorpe 5 41.29x
Little Harrowden 5 862.07x
Norwich St George Colegate 5 434.78x
Pewsey 5 375.94x
Sunderland 5 46.47x
Wellington 5 111.86x
Churchstanton 4 769.23x
Notton 4 2222.22x
St Pancras London 4 2.43x
Stoke 4 231.21x
Bermondsey 3 4.92x
Duston 3 171.43x
Floore 3 416.67x
Garston 3 41.84x
Plumstead 3 12.88x
St George In East 3 21.54x
Fulham London 2 6.73x
Hackney London 2 1.74x
Portsea 2 2.43x
Radcliffe 2 17.06x
Risby 2 645.16x
Salisbury St Martin 2 105.82x
Sheraton With Hulam 2 1538.46x
Shincliffe 2 294.12x
Streatham 2 13.16x
Swindon 2 14.23x
Swinton In Rotherham 2 37.24x
Wakefield 2 12.84x
Williton 2 181.82x
Barrow Upon Soar 1 53.19x
Birmingham 1 0.58x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 27.32x
Doncaster 1 6.74x
Elvet 1 22.73x
Greenwich 1 3.07x
Hove 1 6.60x
Huddersfield 1 3.38x
Normanby In 1 18.42x
Northam 1 32.15x
Ormesby 1 18.32x
Osmotherley Foxton 1 3333.33x
Paddington London 1 1.33x
Ridgmont 1 192.31x
Shrewsbury St Julian 1 22.83x
St Brides Minor 1 156.25x
St Gluvias Penryn 1 53.76x
St Marylebone London 1 0.91x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 20.24x
Walcot 1 5.69x
Wellingborough 1 10.32x
Whitworth 1 22.42x
Wollescote 1 46.51x
Wolverhampton 1 1.88x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hold surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 7
Emma 5
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Clara 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Hanah 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Miriam 2
Winifred 2
Alice 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Clarinda 1
Dina 1
Eleanor 1
Frederica 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Kirk 1
Leah 1
Liza 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Rebacca 1
Rosa 1
Sahra 1
Sarh 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hold surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 12
John 11
William 11
Thomas 10
James 6
Richard 4
Abel 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Ambrose 2
Jonathan 2
Joseph 2
Saml. 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Crosby 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Heny 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Peter 1
S. 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Wm. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Hold surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hold surname in 1881?

In 1881, 210 people were recorded with the Hold surname. That placed it at #12,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hold surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016. That gives Hold a modern rank of #13,640.

What does the Hold surname mean?

A surname derived from an English word meaning to own, possess, or keep.

What does the Hold map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hold bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.