NameCensus.

UK surname

Holian

A surname derived from the name of the Irish village Holing or Moycullen near Galway.

In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Holian surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 246, ranked #16,993, up from #30,464 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Leeds and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holian is 266 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1018.2%.

1881 census count

22

Ranked #30,464

Modern count

246

2016, ranked #16,993

Peak year

2010

266 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holian had 22 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,464 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016, ranked #16,993.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 59 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Holian surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holian surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holian 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
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 22 #30,464
1891 historical 36 #31,465
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 59 #26,914
1997 modern 209 #17,157
1998 modern 213 #17,431
1999 modern 224 #16,984
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 222 #16,806
2002 modern 234 #16,543
2003 modern 219 #17,085
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 227 #16,730
2006 modern 231 #16,636
2007 modern 232 #16,795
2008 modern 238 #16,640
2009 modern 253 #16,283
2010 modern 266 #16,067
2011 modern 261 #16,145
2012 modern 248 #16,618
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 248 #16,991
2015 modern 248 #16,905
2016 modern 246 #16,993

Geography

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Where Holians are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Leeds, East Hertfordshire and Salford. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 004 Halton
2 Halton 006 Halton
3 Leeds 017 Leeds
4 East Hertfordshire 001 East Hertfordshire
5 Salford 028 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holian

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holian

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Holian is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holian is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holian falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Holian is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Holian

The surname Holian is believed to have originated in Ireland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be a variant of the Irish Gaelic name O'Halloran, which itself derived from the words 'O' meaning 'descendant of' and 'Alloran', a personal name meaning 'wanderer' or 'stranger'.

Historically, the Holian name was concentrated in the counties of Clare and Limerick, where many bearers of the name were landowners and prominent members of their local communities. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century.

One notable early bearer of the Holian name was Dermot Holian, a 16th-century Irish chieftain who led his clan in the Second Desmond Rebellion against English rule in Munster. Another was Patrick Holian, a 17th-century priest who was executed during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland for his involvement in the Irish Confederate Wars.

In the 18th century, the name Holian began to appear in records beyond Ireland, as many bearers of the name emigrated to other parts of the British Empire and the United States. One such individual was John Holian, born in County Clare in 1745, who served in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Pennsylvania.

As the centuries progressed, the Holian name continued to spread globally, with notable bearers including the Irish-born Australian explorer and surveyor Martin Holian (1820-1890), who played a key role in mapping the colonial frontier of Victoria. Another was the American baseball player James Holian (1885-1961), who played for the Detroit Tigers in the early 20th century.

Overall, while the precise origins of the Holian surname may be shrouded in the mists of time, its deep roots in Irish history and the accomplishments of its many notable bearers across the centuries have left an indelible mark on the name's rich legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holian families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holian 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. Lancashire leads with 9 Holians recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.54x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 9 3.54x
Staffordshire 6 8.29x
Derbyshire 3 8.94x
Middlesex 3 1.40x
Yorkshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bilston in Staffordshire leads with 5 Holians recorded in 1881 and an index of 357.14x.

Place Total Index
Bilston 5 357.14x
Oldham 5 60.90x
Manchester 4 34.97x
Chesterfield 3 238.10x
Westminster St James 3 136.36x
Middlesbrough 1 36.10x
Wednesbury 1 55.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Kate 2
Bridget 1
Jane 1
Sabina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Michael 2
Patrick 2
William 2
Luke 1
Pat 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Holian surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holian surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Holian surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holian surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016. That gives Holian a modern rank of #16,993.

What does the Holian surname mean?

A surname derived from the name of the Irish village Holing or Moycullen near Galway.

What does the Holian map show?

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