NameCensus.

UK surname

Holleran

An Irish surname derived from Ó hOileáin, meaning "descendant of Oileán" (island).

In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Holleran surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 362, ranked #12,810, up from #22,745 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bury and Winwick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, St. Helens and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holleran is 376 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 376.3%.

1881 census count

76

Ranked #22,745

Modern count

362

2016, ranked #12,810

Peak year

2013

376 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holleran had 76 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,745 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016, ranked #12,810.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 157 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Holleran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holleran surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holleran 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 76 #22,745
1891 historical 126 #20,604
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 157 #17,348
1997 modern 302 #13,459
1998 modern 307 #13,690
1999 modern 309 #13,697
2000 modern 300 #13,904
2001 modern 304 #13,619
2002 modern 323 #13,325
2003 modern 335 #12,815
2004 modern 324 #13,197
2005 modern 334 #12,818
2006 modern 328 #13,073
2007 modern 324 #13,322
2008 modern 333 #13,175
2009 modern 343 #13,168
2010 modern 361 #12,933
2011 modern 359 #12,856
2012 modern 344 #13,121
2013 modern 376 #12,472
2014 modern 372 #12,669
2015 modern 368 #12,661
2016 modern 362 #12,810

Geography

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Where Hollerans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bury, Winwick, Leeds and Wigan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, St. Helens, Leeds, Cheshire East and Bromley. 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 Winwick Lancashire
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Wigan Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 023 Rochdale
2 St. Helens 010 St. Helens
3 Leeds 075 Leeds
4 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East
5 Bromley 011 Bromley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holleran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holleran

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Holleran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Holleran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Holleran 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

Holleran 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

Holleran 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 Holleran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Holleran

The surname Holleran originates from Ireland, specifically in the counties of Cork and Kerry. It dates back to the 12th century when it was derived from the Gaelic words "O'Laoghaire," meaning "descendant of the calf keeper." The name evolved through various spellings like O'Loughran, O'Lougherin, and Loughran before settling on Holleran in the 18th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 15th century. It mentions an O'Laoghaire chieftain who ruled over a territory in what is now County Cork.

In the 16th century, the Hollerans were among the prominent families in the Barony of Duhallow, a historical territory in northwestern County Cork. Some notable figures from this era include Donough Holleran, a landowner and member of the Irish gentry, and Fineen Holleran, a respected Gaelic poet.

During the 17th century, many Hollerans were forced to change the spelling of their name due to the suppression of Irish culture and language under English rule. This led to variations like Hollaren and Holleran gaining prominence.

In the 19th century, a famous Holleran was John Holleran (1795-1872), a Catholic priest and educator who established several schools in Ireland and worked tirelessly to promote education among the poor.

Another noteworthy individual was Mary Holleran (1827-1905), a nun who founded the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary, a religious order dedicated to education and social work.

Patrick Holleran (1865-1946), a politician and businessman, served as a member of the British Parliament for the constituency of North Cork from 1900 to 1918.

In the 20th century, James Holleran (1903-1987) was a prominent Irish-American lawyer and judge who served as a justice on the New York State Supreme Court for over two decades.

Finally, Michael Holleran (1938-2021) was a renowned American author and academic, best known for his novels exploring LGBTQ themes and experiences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holleran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holleran 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 41 Hollerans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 41 4.66x
Durham 11 4.99x
Yorkshire 10 1.36x
Cheshire 6 3.67x
Middlesex 2 0.27x
Staffordshire 2 0.80x
Dunbartonshire 1 5.02x
Northumberland 1 0.91x
Renfrewshire 1 1.74x
Surrey 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ford in Durham leads with 8 Hollerans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1212.12x.

Place Total Index
Ford 8 1212.12x
Wigan 8 65.09x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 31.22x
Oldham 6 21.13x
Runcorn 6 159.15x
Spotland 6 61.35x
Blackburn 5 21.37x
Leeds 5 12.06x
Gomersal 4 116.62x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 31.41x
Wardleworth 3 59.64x
Liverpool 2 3.74x
Newton In Makerfield 2 74.35x
Shoreditch London 2 6.22x
Wednesbury 2 32.00x
Bury 1 9.95x
Camberwell 1 2.11x
Dumbarton 1 36.10x
Elton 1 32.89x
North Shields 1 45.45x
Salford 1 3.87x
Shadwell 1 357.14x
West Greenock 1 9.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Bridget 7
Catherine 5
Ann 3
Hannah 3
Margaret 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
Jane 1
Maggie 1
Nanny 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 7
James 5
John 5
Patrick 5
Michael 3
Dominick 1
F. 1
George 1
Ignatious 1
Joseph 1
Luke 1
Martin 1
Mich. 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Holleran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holleran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Holleran surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holleran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 362 in 2016. That gives Holleran a modern rank of #12,810.

What does the Holleran surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Ó hOileáin, meaning "descendant of Oileán" (island).

What does the Holleran map show?

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