NameCensus.

UK surname

Holford

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Cheshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 974 people recorded with the Holford surname, ranking it #3,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,324, ranked #4,534, down from #3,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Cannock Chase.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holford is 1,470 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.9%.

1881 census count

974

Ranked #3,996

Modern count

1,324

2016, ranked #4,534

Peak year

1999

1,470 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holford had 974 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,324 in 2016, ranked #4,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,436 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holford 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 598 #4,284
1861 historical 593 #4,467
1881 historical 974 #3,996
1891 historical 1,047 #3,995
1901 historical 1,434 #3,542
1911 historical 1,436 #3,369
1997 modern 1,288 #4,426
1998 modern 1,449 #4,173
1999 modern 1,470 #4,152
2000 modern 1,441 #4,203
2001 modern 1,406 #4,205
2002 modern 1,395 #4,307
2003 modern 1,363 #4,311
2004 modern 1,371 #4,303
2005 modern 1,351 #4,310
2006 modern 1,333 #4,362
2007 modern 1,318 #4,435
2008 modern 1,335 #4,411
2009 modern 1,366 #4,409
2010 modern 1,376 #4,470
2011 modern 1,378 #4,415
2012 modern 1,339 #4,458
2013 modern 1,353 #4,491
2014 modern 1,362 #4,492
2015 modern 1,339 #4,515
2016 modern 1,324 #4,534

Geography

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Where Holfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington, Brighton and Framfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Cannock Chase and Colchester. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington Staffordshire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Framfield Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
2 Gloucester 007 Gloucester
3 Cannock Chase 006 Cannock Chase
4 Colchester 021 Colchester
5 Cannock Chase 011 Cannock Chase

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Holford, 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 Holford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Holford 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Holford is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holford is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holford falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Holford 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 Holford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Holford

The surname Holford has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hol" meaning a hollow or a depression in the ground, and "ford" referring to a shallow crossing in a river or stream. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a hollow or depression with a ford across a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Holeforde." This entry refers to a place in Cheshire, indicating that the name was likely associated with a specific location before becoming a surname.

During the 13th century, records show the name spelled in various forms, such as "Holleford," "Holleforde," and "Hollesforde." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the differences in local dialects and scribal practices.

In the 14th century, the name Holford appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire, indicating that individuals with this surname were living in that area during that time period.

One notable bearer of the Holford name was Sir William Holford (c. 1530-1588), who served as a member of Parliament for Northamptonshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure with this surname was Reverend Thomas Holford (1623-1696), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 18th century, a wealthy family with the surname Holford owned extensive estates in Cheshire and Dorset. One member of this family, Robert Holford (1757-1839), was a landowner and Member of Parliament for East Looe in Cornwall.

Sir George Holford (1768-1838) was a notable British banker and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Regent's Park in London.

Additionally, Richard Holford (1828-1892) was a British architect and surveyor known for his work on various ecclesiastical buildings in the Gothic Revival style.

These examples illustrate the presence of the Holford surname throughout different periods of British history and its association with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from landowners and politicians to clergymen and architects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holford 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. Staffordshire leads with 232 Holfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.34x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 232 7.34x
Sussex 134 8.49x
Middlesex 121 1.29x
Gloucestershire 97 5.28x
Lancashire 84 0.76x
Cheshire 73 3.53x
Surrey 53 1.16x
Yorkshire 35 0.38x
Worcestershire 18 1.47x
Hertfordshire 14 2.17x
Warwickshire 12 0.51x
Buckinghamshire 9 1.59x
Devon 8 0.41x
Dorset 8 1.30x
Derbyshire 7 0.48x
Essex 7 0.38x
Kent 6 0.19x
Norfolk 6 0.42x
Northamptonshire 5 0.57x
Northumberland 4 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.32x
Hampshire 3 0.16x
Oxfordshire 3 0.52x
Shropshire 3 0.37x
Berkshire 2 0.28x
Durham 2 0.07x
Glamorgan 2 0.12x
Monmouthshire 2 0.30x
Brecknockshire 1 0.53x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Perthshire 1 0.24x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 43 Holfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.83x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 43 12.83x
Brighton 32 10.05x
Framfield 24 490.80x
Salt Enson 20 1459.85x
Hackney London 19 3.62x
Brewood 17 186.61x
Camberwell 16 2.67x
Walsall Foreign 15 9.19x
Castle Church 14 73.68x
Islington London 13 1.43x
Ovingdean 13 2954.55x
Runcorn 13 27.28x
West Derby 13 4.00x
Ickenham 12 937.50x
Lydney 12 126.58x
Cannock 11 19.94x
Hampstead London 11 7.54x
Sutton 11 33.32x
Aylesbury 9 35.87x
Caverswall 9 54.78x
Hove 9 12.99x
St George Hanover Square 9 5.45x
Stafford St Mary 9 20.11x
Stone 9 22.26x
Stretton 9 1200.00x
Toxteth Park 9 2.39x
Acton Trussell 8 454.55x
Aston Cum Aughton 8 105.40x
Buckland Newton 8 290.91x
Burslem 8 8.83x
Great Amwell 8 123.65x
Leeds 8 1.53x
Lower Beeding 8 190.48x
Manningham 8 7.00x
Rottingdean 8 148.42x
Audley 7 22.38x
Berkswich 7 362.69x
Bromley London 7 3.40x
Clapham 7 5.98x
Eastbourne 7 9.64x
Elton In Congleton 7 397.73x
Hammersmith London 7 3.03x
Ilfracombe 7 34.88x
Lambeth 7 0.86x
Liscard 7 18.80x
North Meols 7 6.44x
Taynton 7 378.38x
Weston In Runcorn 7 130.35x
Wolstanton 7 7.29x
Acton 6 10.93x
Blackley 6 30.80x
Burton Upon Trent 6 8.11x
Kensington London 6 1.15x
Kirkdale 6 3.21x
Limehouse London 6 5.84x
Little Comberton 6 652.17x
Rodborough 6 67.64x
Sandhurst 6 405.41x
Sutton Coldfield 6 24.17x
Uckfield 6 87.21x
West Ham 6 1.47x
Wincham 6 157.48x
Worsley 6 8.76x
Burntwood Edial 5 24.76x
Cheshunt 5 22.16x
Gloucester St John Baptist 5 42.16x
Gloucester St Nicholas 5 58.82x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 11.57x
Longhope 5 160.26x
Northampton Priory St 5 9.46x
Prestbury 5 109.89x
Rudford 5 714.29x
Rugeley 5 22.05x
Tettenhall 5 25.87x
West Firle 5 271.74x
Westbury On Severn East 5 12.04x
Churcham 4 245.40x
Langwith 4 330.58x
Little Stanmore 4 144.40x
Wotton Ville 4 229.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Elizabeth 41
Sarah 28
Ellen 26
Eliza 19
Annie 18
Emma 17
Alice 16
Jane 15
Emily 14
Ann 12
Caroline 12
Hannah 12
Fanny 11
Edith 9
Margaret 9
Susan 9
Kate 8
Florence 7
Harriet 7
Louisa 7
Anne 6
Martha 6
Maria 5
Ada 4
Harriett 4
Amelia 3
Dorothy 3
Ethel 3
Gertrude 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Olive 3
Rachel 3
Rebecca 3
Abagail 2
Agnes 2
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Blanch 2
Catherine 2
Esther 2
Hester 2
Julia 2
Nellie 2
Prudence 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
E.M. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 67
William 55
George 43
Thomas 34
Henry 28
James 26
Charles 21
Arthur 14
Joseph 14
Frederick 12
Samuel 10
Edward 9
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Harry 6
Ernest 5
Geo. 5
Edwin 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Christopher 3
Francis 3
Robert 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Thos 2
Amy 1
Andrew 1
Bernard 1
Bryan 1
Caleb 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Eley 1
Enoch 1
Ephraim 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Gilbert 1
Graham 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Holford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 974 people were recorded with the Holford surname. That placed it at #3,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,324 in 2016. That gives Holford a modern rank of #4,534.

What does the Holford surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Cheshire, England.

What does the Holford map show?

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