UK surname
A habitational surname derived from any of various places named Hollen, likely referring to a holly tree or grove.
In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Hollen surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #27,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Halifax and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hollen is 175 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.5%.
1881 census count
43
Ranked #27,575
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
175 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hollen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hollen surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 74 | #20,443 |
| 1861 | historical | 175 | #13,409 |
| 1881 | historical | 43 | #27,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 50 | #30,253 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 22 | #35,725 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 23 | #35,451 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 17 | #36,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Halifax, Manchester, St George the Martyr and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hollen surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hollen, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hollen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hollen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hollen is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hollen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hollen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hollen is believed to have originated in Germany, where it is thought to have derived from the old German word "holl," meaning "hollow" or "depression." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a hollow or low-lying area.
The earliest known records of the name date back to the 13th century, with mentions found in various historical documents and records from that time period. One notable example is a reference to a person named Hollen in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the region of Brandenburg, Germany.
In the 14th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Germany, as well as to neighboring countries like the Netherlands and Denmark. This is evidenced by records from that era, such as the Stadtbuch von Braunschweig, a chronicle of the city of Braunschweig, which mentions an individual named Hollen.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Hollen was Johannes Hollen, a German scholar and priest who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his writings on theology and philosophy.
Another notable figure was Hans Hollen, a German painter and engraver who lived in the 16th century. He was renowned for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, which often depicted religious and mythological scenes.
In the 17th century, the name Hollen appears in Dutch records, such as the Oud Rechterlijk Archief van de Stad Utrecht, which mentions a person named Pieter Hollen. This suggests that the name had spread to the Netherlands by that time.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Hollen was Johann Hollen, a German composer and organist who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was known for his contributions to the development of the Baroque style of music.
Another notable figure was Friedrich Hollen, a German philosopher and writer who lived in the 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the German Romantic movement and wrote extensively on topics related to aesthetics and the philosophy of art.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hollen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 8 Hollens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.61x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.61x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.91x |
| Suffolk | 8 | 15.67x |
| Surrey | 7 | 3.43x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.44x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 3.54x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.41x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.16x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.74x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St George Martyr in Surrey leads with 7 Hollens recorded in 1881 and an index of 82.94x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Southwark St George Martyr | 7 | 82.94x |
| Rattlesden | 6 | 4000.00x |
| Bethnal Green London | 5 | 27.46x |
| Whalley | 5 | 694.44x |
| Nether Hallam | 4 | 71.17x |
| Hayton | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Padiham | 2 | 166.67x |
| Wolverhampton | 2 | 18.38x |
| Worlington | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Worsbrough | 2 | 163.93x |
| Alton | 1 | 153.85x |
| Avondale | 1 | 126.58x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.46x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.96x |
| Wardleworth | 1 | 35.21x |
| Willesden | 1 | 25.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hollen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hollen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Hollen surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Hollen a modern rank of #36,457.
A habitational surname derived from any of various places named Hollen, likely referring to a holly tree or grove.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hollen bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.