NameCensus.

UK surname

Hole

A topographical surname referring to someone who lived in a small valley or hollow.

In the 1881 census there were 2,569 people recorded with the Hole surname, ranking it #1,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,802, ranked #2,411, down from #1,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newport, West Dorset and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hole is 3,591 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.1%.

1881 census count

2,569

Ranked #1,738

Modern count

2,802

2016, ranked #2,411

Peak year

1911

3,591 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hole had 2,569 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,802 in 2016, ranked #2,411.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,591 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hole surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hole 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 1,735 #1,666
1861 historical 2,030 #1,426
1881 historical 2,569 #1,738
1891 historical 2,941 #1,600
1901 historical 3,185 #1,764
1911 historical 3,591 #1,455
1997 modern 3,111 #2,059
1998 modern 3,177 #2,113
1999 modern 3,176 #2,128
2000 modern 3,146 #2,139
2001 modern 3,053 #2,153
2002 modern 3,028 #2,224
2003 modern 2,962 #2,222
2004 modern 2,941 #2,229
2005 modern 2,835 #2,291
2006 modern 2,785 #2,329
2007 modern 2,835 #2,311
2008 modern 2,862 #2,312
2009 modern 2,874 #2,344
2010 modern 2,918 #2,365
2011 modern 2,867 #2,371
2012 modern 2,799 #2,383
2013 modern 2,897 #2,348
2014 modern 2,895 #2,363
2015 modern 2,815 #2,404
2016 modern 2,802 #2,411

Geography

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Where Holes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newport, West Dorset, West Somerset, Purbeck and Monmouthshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newport 015 Newport
2 West Dorset 002 West Dorset
3 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
4 Purbeck 005 Purbeck
5 Monmouthshire 008 Monmouthshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hole

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Hole surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hole household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hole is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hole is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hole 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 Hole 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 Hole, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hole

The surname HOLE originated in England and dates back to the mid-12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hol," which means a hole, hollow, or cave. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a hole or cave, or perhaps someone who worked as a maker of holes or hollows.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HOLE appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191, where a William Hole is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also include references to individuals with the surname HOLE, such as Robert Hole of Oxfordshire.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname HOLE was found in various parts of England, including Wiltshire, Somerset, and Devon. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list several individuals with this surname, such as John Hole of Somerset and Thomas Hole of Devon.

In the 15th century, the surname HOLE was also found in the Visitations of Norfolk, where a coat of arms was recorded for the HOLE family. This suggests that some branches of the family had achieved a certain level of status and prominence by this time.

Notable individuals throughout history with the surname HOLE include:

1. Sir John Hole (1470-1538), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. 2. Reverend Matthew Hole (1614-1697), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Exeter College, Oxford. 3. Richard Hole (1746-1803), an English composer and organist who worked at the Chapel Royal. 4. William Hole (1806-1888), an English geologist and botanist known for his work on the flora of the Isle of Wight. 5. Samuel Hole (1819-1904), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Dean of Rochester Cathedral.

The surname HOLE can also be found in various place names across England, such as Hole Farm in Somerset, Hole Cottage in Devon, and Hole Bottom in Wiltshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the Old English word "hol."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hole 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. Somerset leads with 626 Holes recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.52x.

County Total Index
Somerset 626 15.52x
Devon 465 8.91x
Middlesex 253 1.01x
Gloucestershire 216 4.39x
Surrey 172 1.41x
Sussex 121 2.86x
Derbyshire 92 2.34x
Kent 85 0.99x
Hampshire 78 1.52x
Glamorgan 77 1.76x
Nottinghamshire 37 1.10x
Monmouthshire 34 1.88x
Warwickshire 32 0.51x
Cornwall 30 1.06x
Wiltshire 28 1.26x
Staffordshire 27 0.32x
Dorset 23 1.40x
Yorkshire 23 0.09x
Lancashire 22 0.07x
Worcestershire 22 0.67x
Leicestershire 18 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 17 1.12x
Berkshire 14 0.74x
Cheshire 8 0.14x
Midlothian 8 0.24x
Essex 7 0.14x
Herefordshire 6 0.58x
Montgomeryshire 6 1.04x
Durham 4 0.05x
Royal Navy 4 1.34x
Lincolnshire 3 0.07x
Oxfordshire 3 0.19x
Shropshire 2 0.09x
Angus 1 0.04x
Ayrshire 1 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 57 Holes recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.32x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 57 12.32x
Tormoham 42 19.03x
Dunster 39 403.73x
Bristol St James St Paul 38 23.19x
Plymouth Charles The 37 16.10x
Hurstpierpoint 32 136.11x
St Marylebone London 32 2.39x
Kensington London 30 2.15x
Luxborough 28 779.94x
Farnham 27 28.44x
Bedminster 26 6.86x
Lambeth 25 1.14x
Plymouth St Andrew 25 6.22x
Cutcombe 24 495.87x
Portsea 24 2.38x
Tiverton 24 26.71x
Camberwell 22 1.37x
St Decumans Watchet 21 205.68x
Ashford 19 22.82x
Brighton 19 2.23x
Monksilver 19 840.71x
Moreton Hampstead 19 140.85x
Bermondsey 18 2.41x
Exeter St David 18 40.40x
Aston 17 0.98x
Bridgewater 17 15.52x
Bristol St Augustine 17 21.43x
Keymer 17 56.97x
Lamyatt 17 794.39x
Old Cleeve 16 111.11x
Paddington London 16 1.74x
West Teignmouth 16 40.09x
Bristol St George 15 6.60x
St Decumans 15 387.60x
West Pennard 15 231.12x
Westminster St John 15 4.92x
Wolborough 15 22.75x
Bruton 14 88.22x
St Pancras London 14 0.69x
Wedmore 14 53.33x
Wookey 14 157.48x
Weston Super Mare 13 12.76x
Williton 13 96.23x
Bolney 12 174.93x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 10.04x
Exeter St Thomas The 12 22.56x
Lewisham 12 2.63x
Taunton St Mary 12 16.21x
Westbury On Trym 12 7.21x
Ditcheat 11 158.73x
Glastonbury 11 33.41x
North Petherton 11 33.80x
Stapleton 11 11.80x
Westbury 11 214.01x
Acton 10 6.81x
Aldershot 10 5.81x
Ashover 10 51.23x
Barnstaple 10 12.21x
Bray 10 18.09x
Carhampton 10 180.83x
Great Bookham 10 106.61x
Islington London 10 0.41x
Llandaff 10 6.89x
St George Hanover Square 10 2.26x
Walcot 10 4.65x
Wednesbury 10 4.73x
Whitchurch 10 42.37x
Almsford 9 354.33x
Bishops Nympton 9 90.54x
Bristol St James In 9 12.45x
Bristol Temple 9 27.81x
Derby St Werburgh 9 3.97x
East Pennard 9 172.08x
Harrow 9 23.50x
Monckton Combe 9 69.82x
North Tawton 9 56.18x
Shoreditch London 9 0.83x
Stogumber 9 84.51x
Tedburn St Mary 9 163.64x
Trevethin 9 5.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 174
Elizabeth 109
Sarah 72
Ellen 53
Emma 49
Ann 46
Annie 45
Jane 44
Emily 39
Alice 38
Eliza 31
Louisa 31
Florence 22
Hannah 22
Edith 20
Fanny 18
Margaret 17
Maria 17
Charlotte 16
Harriet 16
Frances 15
Martha 15
Susan 15
Caroline 14
Ada 13
Bessie 12
Kate 11
Lucy 10
Matilda 10
Amy 9
Harriett 9
Clara 8
Anne 7
Elizth. 7
Rose 7
Agnes 6
Anna 6
Jessie 6
Julia 6
Laura 6
Mabel 6
Minnie 6
Catherine 5
Gertrude 5
Henrietta 5
Lydia 5
Rhoda 5
Rosina 5
Selina 5
Susanna 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 175
John 141
George 95
Thomas 79
James 70
Charles 58
Henry 55
Alfred 35
Edward 30
Albert 29
Robert 29
Joseph 26
Frederick 25
Richard 24
Walter 24
Arthur 19
Edwin 16
Frank 16
Herbert 16
Ernest 15
Francis 15
Harry 15
Samuel 14
Sidney 10
David 8
Sydney 7
Wm. 6
Benjamin 5
Chas. 5
Stephen 5
Amos 4
Anthony 4
Fred 4
Isaac 4
Michael 4
Percy 4
Willm. 4
Alexander 3
Earnest 3
Frances 3
Hugh 3
Louis 3
Reginald 3
Tom 3
Daniel 2
Douglas 2
F. 2
Job 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2

FAQ

Hole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,569 people were recorded with the Hole surname. That placed it at #1,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,802 in 2016. That gives Hole a modern rank of #2,411.

What does the Hole surname mean?

A topographical surname referring to someone who lived in a small valley or hollow.

What does the Hole map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hole 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.