NameCensus.

UK surname

Holl

Derived from Middle English "hol," referring to someone who lived in or near a hollow or valley.

In the 1881 census there were 217 people recorded with the Holl surname, ranking it #12,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 388, ranked #12,133, up from #12,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bury and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, South Norfolk and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holl is 1,554 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.8%.

1881 census count

217

Ranked #12,188

Modern count

388

2016, ranked #12,133

Peak year

1861

1,554 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holl had 217 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016, ranked #12,133.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,554 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Holl surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holl surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holl 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 792 #3,369
1861 historical 1,554 #1,827
1881 historical 217 #12,188
1891 historical 1,276 #3,387
1901 historical 414 #9,254
1911 historical 469 #8,232
1997 modern 340 #12,428
1998 modern 353 #12,470
1999 modern 364 #12,267
2000 modern 368 #12,130
2001 modern 352 #12,318
2002 modern 362 #12,318
2003 modern 344 #12,577
2004 modern 339 #12,744
2005 modern 321 #13,195
2006 modern 336 #12,842
2007 modern 326 #13,260
2008 modern 334 #13,142
2009 modern 346 #13,075
2010 modern 356 #13,071
2011 modern 367 #12,647
2012 modern 364 #12,564
2013 modern 371 #12,597
2014 modern 379 #12,483
2015 modern 380 #12,364
2016 modern 388 #12,133

Geography

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Where Holls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bury, London parishes, Manchester and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, South Norfolk, Fenland, North Norfolk and Sedgemoor. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bury Lancashire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 007 Sandwell
2 South Norfolk 006 South Norfolk
3 Fenland 003 Fenland
4 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
5 Sedgemoor 002 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holl

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holl

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Holl surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Holl household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Holl 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

Holl 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

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

Meaning and origin of Holl

The surname HOLL has its origins in Germany and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "holle" or "holl", which means "small hill" or "hollow". This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name likely resided near a small hill or a hollow area.

The name HOLL can be found in various historical records, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony in Germany. One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname dates back to 1285, when a certain "Henricus de Holl" was mentioned in this codex.

Another notable historical reference to the HOLL surname is found in the Nuremberg Chronicle, a 15th-century world history book published in 1493. This book contains a mention of a certain "Johannes Holl", who was a prominent figure in the city of Nuremberg during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HOLL was Johann Holl, a German painter and engraver born in Augsburg in 1512. He was renowned for his intricate woodcut designs and his contributions to the art of printmaking.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the HOLL surname was Hans Holl, a German composer and organist who lived from 1564 to 1635. He was particularly known for his sacred music compositions and his work as the organist at the Basilica of St. Ulrich and Afra in Augsburg.

During the 17th century, a prominent figure with the HOLL surname was Gottfried Holl, a German architect and urban planner born in 1632. He is best known for his work on the reconstruction of the city of Dresden after the devastating fires of 1685 and 1687.

Another significant individual with the HOLL surname was Johann Michael Holl, a German painter and etcher who lived from 1745 to 1826. He was renowned for his religious paintings and his work as a court painter for the Elector of Bavaria.

In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the HOLL surname was Friedrich Holl, a German painter and illustrator born in 1839. He was particularly known for his historical and genre paintings, as well as his illustrations for various books and publications.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holl families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holl 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. Middlesex leads with 64 Holls recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 64 3.08x
Norfolk 35 10.96x
Herefordshire 28 32.87x
Radnorshire 12 71.60x
Cumberland 9 5.03x
Surrey 9 0.89x
Flintshire 8 14.32x
Shropshire 6 3.34x
Somerset 6 1.79x
Monmouthshire 5 3.33x
Warwickshire 4 0.76x
Caernarfonshire 3 3.57x
Cambridgeshire 3 2.28x
Staffordshire 3 0.43x
Yorkshire 3 0.15x
Brecknockshire 2 4.81x
Kent 2 0.28x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Sussex 2 0.57x
Essex 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.25x
Lanarkshire 1 0.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.43x
Montgomeryshire 1 2.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.51x
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. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 11 Holls recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.44x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 11 9.44x
St Pancras London 11 6.58x
Hammersmith London 10 19.54x
Heigham 10 58.31x
New Buckenham 10 2500.00x
Arlecdon 9 189.08x
Gresford Marford 8 3636.36x
Eardisland 7 1250.00x
Eye 7 1400.00x
Bethnal Green London 6 6.65x
St George Hanover Square 6 16.39x
Leintwardine 5 1785.71x
Lydham 5 6250.00x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 57.08x
New Radnor 5 1470.59x
Southwark Christchurch 5 51.33x
St Marylebone London 5 4.51x
Trevethin 5 35.26x
Watton 5 500.00x
Clyro 4 769.23x
Kington 4 189.57x
Birmingham 3 1.72x
Kensington London 3 2.60x
Outwell 3 1250.00x
Shoreditch London 3 3.33x
St Andrew Holborn 3 42.61x
Winforton 3 3333.33x
Wolstanton Oldcott 3 118.11x
Ynyscynhaiarn 3 76.73x
Church Fenton 2 540.54x
Great Yarmouth 2 7.56x
Hambledon 2 186.92x
Lewes St Ann 2 168.07x
Lewisham 2 5.29x
Norwich St Benedict 2 140.85x
Norwich St Stephen 2 68.26x
Paddington London 2 2.62x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 4.78x
St Martin In Fields 2 16.08x
Barony 1 0.59x
Bishop Burton 1 303.03x
Bradford 1 8.67x
Builth 1 97.09x
Burbage 1 83.33x
Chelsea London 1 1.60x
Cogenhoe 1 400.00x
Edgbaston 1 6.15x
Fakenham Alethorpe 1 256.41x
Gloucester St Nicholas 1 52.91x
Hampstead London 1 3.09x
Hay 1 64.94x
Knighton 1 74.07x
Leintwardine 1 114.94x
Llanbister 1 172.41x
Pilton 1 125.00x
Pool 1 27.86x
Presteigne 1 94.34x
Springfield 1 55.56x
Thorpe Next Norwich 1 29.50x
Titley 1 357.14x
Trunch 1 312.50x
Upton Bishop 1 200.00x
West Derby 1 1.39x
West Walton 1 163.93x
Worcester St Nicholas 1 77.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 7
Ann 5
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Hannah 4
Alice 3
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Emily 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Rosa 2
Sarah 2
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Arenia 1
Benjn.W. 1
Blanche 1
Bridget 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Emelina 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriette 1
Kate 1
L.E. 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margarett 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 9
James 6
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Henry 5
Albert 4
George 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Charles 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Lanham 2
Lewis 2
Thomas 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Benjn. 1
Chas.H.G. 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Griffith 1
Hattil 1
Heath 1
Horace 1
Rudolph 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Holl surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holl surname in 1881?

In 1881, 217 people were recorded with the Holl surname. That placed it at #12,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holl surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016. That gives Holl a modern rank of #12,133.

What does the Holl surname mean?

Derived from Middle English "hol," referring to someone who lived in or near a hollow or valley.

What does the Holl map show?

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