NameCensus.

UK surname

Holgate

A surname derived from a gate or road crossing a deep hollow.

In the 1881 census there were 2,485 people recorded with the Holgate surname, ranking it #1,794 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,399, ranked #2,738, down from #1,794 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bradford, Whalley and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Ribble Valley and Pendle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holgate is 3,174 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.5%.

1881 census count

2,485

Ranked #1,794

Modern count

2,399

2016, ranked #2,738

Peak year

1911

3,174 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holgate had 2,485 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,794 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,399 in 2016, ranked #2,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,174 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holgate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holgate surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holgate 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 1,663 #1,729
1861 historical 1,841 #1,568
1881 historical 2,485 #1,794
1891 historical 2,715 #1,746
1901 historical 3,031 #1,847
1911 historical 3,174 #1,642
1997 modern 2,515 #2,505
1998 modern 2,533 #2,581
1999 modern 2,528 #2,607
2000 modern 2,519 #2,600
2001 modern 2,451 #2,605
2002 modern 2,461 #2,659
2003 modern 2,383 #2,679
2004 modern 2,389 #2,669
2005 modern 2,328 #2,696
2006 modern 2,343 #2,689
2007 modern 2,376 #2,676
2008 modern 2,373 #2,695
2009 modern 2,445 #2,692
2010 modern 2,509 #2,688
2011 modern 2,465 #2,706
2012 modern 2,396 #2,714
2013 modern 2,422 #2,735
2014 modern 2,447 #2,729
2015 modern 2,438 #2,714
2016 modern 2,399 #2,738

Geography

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Where Holgates are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bradford, Whalley, Blackburn and Halifax. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Ribble Valley, Pendle, Craven and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Whalley Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
2 Ribble Valley 007 Ribble Valley
3 Pendle 010 Pendle
4 Craven 003 Craven
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holgate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holgate

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Holgate is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holgate 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

Holgate falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Holgate

The surname HOLGATE is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Holgate, which is a combination of the Old English words 'hol' meaning hollow or dell, and 'gata' meaning gate or road. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a hollow or valley with a gate or road leading to it.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname HOLGATE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where it appears as 'de Holgate'. This indicates that the name was already in use by the 13th century and was likely associated with a specific location or settlement.

In the 14th century, the name HOLGATE appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, further solidifying its presence in the region. The spelling variations during this time included 'Holgat', 'Holgayt', and 'Holgayte'.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HOLGATE was Robert Holgate (c. 1481-1555), who was the Archbishop of York and Lord President of the Council of the North during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was a supporter of religious reforms.

Another notable figure was Sir Samuel Holgate (1612-1692), a Member of Parliament and Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the 17th century. He was known for his involvement in legal affairs and his service to the Crown.

In the 18th century, Sir John Holgate (1718-1786) was a prominent British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He rose through the ranks and achieved the rank of Vice Admiral.

The 19th century saw the birth of Benjamin Holgate (1841-1923), a British engineer and inventor who is credited with developing the first successful mechanically propelled road vehicle, known as the Holgate Locomotive.

In the early 20th century, Winifred Holgate (1907-1976) was a renowned British artist known for her landscape paintings and portraits. She was elected as an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1944 and became a full member in 1952.

The surname HOLGATE has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Holgate Hill in Yorkshire, Holgate Bridge in Nottinghamshire, and Holgate Lane in Derbyshire. These place names further reinforce the locational origins of the surname and its connection to specific geographic locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holgate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holgate 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 1,009 Holgates recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.20x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,009 4.20x
Lancashire 994 3.46x
Essex 131 2.74x
Middlesex 73 0.30x
Lincolnshire 47 1.21x
Cheshire 35 0.65x
Kent 33 0.40x
Derbyshire 22 0.58x
Surrey 20 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 17 0.52x
Midlothian 15 0.46x
Durham 14 0.19x
Denbighshire 9 0.98x
Flintshire 8 1.23x
Staffordshire 8 0.10x
Warwickshire 7 0.11x
Gloucestershire 6 0.13x
Cumberland 5 0.24x
Hampshire 5 0.10x
Herefordshire 5 0.50x
Suffolk 5 0.17x
Hertfordshire 3 0.18x
Berkshire 2 0.11x
Northamptonshire 2 0.09x
Worcestershire 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.35x
Rutland 1 0.56x
Sussex 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnley in Lancashire leads with 85 Holgates recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.10x.

Place Total Index
Burnley 85 35.10x
Horton In Bradford 66 17.60x
Habergham Eaves 64 24.35x
Accrington 56 21.42x
Blackburn 52 6.80x
Bramley In Bramley 48 52.22x
Salford 45 5.32x
Hunslet 43 11.48x
Great Little Marsden 42 31.89x
Bradford 40 6.88x
Leeds 40 2.95x
Barrowford Booth 39 122.56x
Clayton Le Moors 31 55.57x
Sawley In Clitheroe 31 2094.59x
Colne 30 35.02x
Oswaldtwistle 29 28.55x
Bingley 27 17.66x
Church 27 66.50x
Spotland 26 8.13x
Halifax 25 7.09x
Little Bolton 24 6.49x
Hulme 23 3.83x
Oldham 23 2.48x
Padiham 23 33.11x
Idle 22 19.76x
Preston 21 2.73x
Embsay Cum Eastby 19 195.88x
Southowram 18 24.56x
Manningham 17 5.75x
Ovenden 17 15.91x
Thorne 17 57.07x
Trawden 17 94.50x
Waltham Holy Cross 17 38.02x
Ashton Under Lyne 16 2.55x
Clitheroe 15 17.72x
Elland Cum Greetland 15 13.87x
High Laver 15 378.79x
Hipperholme Cum 15 14.22x
Penicuik 15 34.01x
Sheffield 15 1.96x
Skipton 15 19.85x
Holbeck 14 8.80x
Over Darwen 14 6.10x
Rawdon 14 49.51x
Stayley 14 22.90x
Tonge With Haulgh 14 25.01x
Castleford 13 14.87x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 2.85x
Great Bolton 13 3.41x
Grindleton 13 251.45x
St Martin In Fields 13 8.96x
Thornton In Craven 13 67.46x
Baildon 12 26.54x
Calverley Cum Farsley 12 17.60x
North Meols 12 4.26x
Shipley 12 9.63x
Bury 11 3.35x
Eccleshill 11 18.83x
Halton East 11 478.26x
Headingley Cum Burley 11 7.12x
Kildwick 11 50.32x
Midgley 11 42.99x
Whixley 11 253.46x
Bowling 10 4.20x
Buckden 10 406.50x
Halliwell 10 9.56x
Haxey 10 60.79x
Heaton 10 82.44x
Newchurch 10 4.25x
Stretford 10 6.32x
Yeadon 10 18.44x
Armley 9 8.50x
Beverley St Nicholas 9 45.71x
Cheetham 9 4.20x
Denbigh 9 24.50x
Misson 9 158.73x
Toxteth Park 9 0.92x
Wigan 9 2.24x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 8 26.04x
Nether Hallam 8 2.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 192
Sarah 101
Elizabeth 85
Jane 56
Ann 50
Alice 44
Hannah 44
Annie 42
Margaret 38
Ellen 37
Martha 36
Emma 29
Emily 21
Eliza 20
Isabella 19
Agnes 15
Edith 15
Ada 14
Maria 14
Anne 12
Harriet 12
Grace 11
Clara 10
Fanny 9
Florence 9
Frances 8
Lucy 8
Sophia 8
Susan 8
Betsy 7
Susannah 7
Betty 6
Catherine 6
Esther 6
Harriett 6
Louisa 6
Rebecca 6
Selina 6
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Deborah 5
Eleanor 5
Rose 5
Bertha 4
Elizth. 4
Gertrude 4
Kate 4
Lavinia 4
Lilly 4
Matilda 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 185
William 138
James 89
Thomas 76
George 55
Henry 47
Joseph 44
Charles 42
Richard 38
Alfred 31
Albert 24
Arthur 23
Samuel 23
Robert 21
Walter 18
Frederick 15
Benjamin 14
Frank 14
Herbert 13
Stephen 13
Edward 11
Harry 10
Christopher 9
David 8
Fred 8
Tom 7
Wm. 7
Ernest 6
Francis 6
Hartley 6
Willie 6
Abraham 5
Isaac 5
Jonathan 5
Anthony 4
Ellis 4
Ralph 4
Thos. 4
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Ed. 3
Edwin 3
Geo. 3
Jno. 3
Jonas 3
Luke 3
Sam 3
Martin 2
Nathaniel 2
Wyndham 2

FAQ

Holgate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holgate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,485 people were recorded with the Holgate surname. That placed it at #1,794 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holgate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,399 in 2016. That gives Holgate a modern rank of #2,738.

What does the Holgate surname mean?

A surname derived from a gate or road crossing a deep hollow.

What does the Holgate map show?

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