NameCensus.

UK surname

Hollett

A variant of either the surname Holliday or Holloway.

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Hollett surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 370, ranked #12,591, up from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, Bridgend and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hollett is 384 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 104.4%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

370

2016, ranked #12,591

Peak year

2010

384 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hollett had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 370 in 2016, ranked #12,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 330 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hollett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hollett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hollett 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 140 #13,593
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 245 #12,950
1901 historical 238 #13,528
1911 historical 330 #10,669
1997 modern 353 #12,096
1998 modern 364 #12,201
1999 modern 369 #12,147
2000 modern 372 #12,020
2001 modern 355 #12,253
2002 modern 340 #12,884
2003 modern 345 #12,549
2004 modern 349 #12,473
2005 modern 342 #12,579
2006 modern 352 #12,396
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 356 #12,534
2009 modern 358 #12,736
2010 modern 384 #12,374
2011 modern 382 #12,272
2012 modern 377 #12,238
2013 modern 377 #12,449
2014 modern 380 #12,449
2015 modern 376 #12,446
2016 modern 370 #12,591

Geography

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Where Holletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster, Lambeth, Walton-on-the-Hill and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, Bridgend, Canterbury and Thanet. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster Devon
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 001 Amber Valley
2 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
3 Bridgend 019 Bridgend
4 Canterbury 004 Canterbury
5 Thanet 002 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hollett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hollett

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hollett 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

Hollett 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

Hollett falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hollett

The surname Hollett has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Devon. It is believed to have originated during the late 12th or early 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "hol", meaning a hollow or small valley, and the diminutive suffix "-et", meaning little. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in a small valley or hollow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hollett can be found in the Feet of Fines records for Devon, dated 1285. These records document legal agreements and property transactions, indicating that individuals with the surname Hollett were landowners or residents in the area at that time.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Hollet, Hollette, and Hollett, reflecting the variations in spelling common in that era. One notable mention is in the Subsidy Rolls for Devon in 1327, which listed a John Hollet among the taxpayers.

The surname Hollett is also associated with several place names in Devon, such as Hollett Farm and Hollett Copse, which likely originated from the name itself or vice versa.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Hollett was John Hollett, born around 1520 in Devon. He was a merchant and landowner who played a role in the local community. Another prominent figure was William Hollett, born in 1648 in the village of Atherington, Devon. He was a farmer and served as a churchwarden for the local parish church.

In the 18th century, the name Hollett gained recognition with the birth of John Hollett (1719-1788), a renowned architect and surveyor from Devon. He designed several notable buildings in the region, including the Tiverton Town Hall and the Bampfylde House in Exeter.

During the 19th century, the Hollett family continued to contribute to various fields. One notable individual was Sir Samuel Hollett (1822-1901), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Plymouth. He established the Hollett Trust, which provided educational opportunities and support for underprivileged children in the area.

Another significant figure was Elizabeth Hollett (1842-1928), a pioneering educator from Exeter. She founded one of the first schools for girls in the city and played a vital role in promoting women's education during that era.

While the surname Hollett is not as common today as it once was in Devon, it continues to hold historical significance and ties to the region's rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hollett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hollett 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. Devon leads with 78 Holletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.11x.

County Total Index
Devon 78 21.11x
Middlesex 28 1.58x
Kent 24 3.96x
Surrey 19 2.20x
Hampshire 12 3.30x
Bedfordshire 8 8.70x
Glamorgan 4 1.29x
Essex 2 0.57x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.89x
Cheshire 1 0.26x
Dorset 1 0.86x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 4.73x
Warwickshire 1 0.22x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradninch in Devon leads with 17 Holletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1634.62x.

Place Total Index
Bradninch 17 1634.62x
Aldershot 12 98.44x
Islington London 11 6.39x
Plymstock 10 518.13x
Exminster 9 676.69x
Kenn 9 1551.72x
Battersea 8 12.25x
Shoreditch London 7 9.10x
Deptford St Paul 6 12.84x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 70.92x
Rotherhithe 6 27.36x
Bigbury 5 1851.85x
East Stonehouse 5 68.68x
Lambeth 5 3.23x
Lee 5 56.88x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 17.56x
Toddington 5 378.79x
Cardiff St Mary 4 23.49x
Margate St John Baptist 4 36.07x
Totnes 4 185.19x
Woolwich 3 13.40x
Flitwick 2 400.00x
Littleham 2 74.07x
Northfleet 2 37.45x
Ringwould 2 384.62x
St Marylebone London 2 2.11x
Tormoham 2 12.79x
West Teignmouth 2 70.67x
Acton 1 9.61x
Bedford St Paul 1 15.87x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.30x
Birkenhead 1 3.20x
Chatham 1 6.00x
Chiswick 1 10.31x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.39x
Devonport 1 23.53x
Doddington 1 120.48x
Faversham 1 17.30x
Hackney London 1 1.00x
Kensington London 1 1.01x
Leamington 1 33.67x
Leeds 1 1.01x
Leigh 1 81.97x
Liverpool 1 0.78x
Mile End New Town London 1 28.49x
Royal Navy 1 5.53x
Sherborne 1 29.15x
St Martin In Fields 1 9.41x
Stoke 1 66.67x
Walthamstow 1 7.93x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
Thomas 10
John 9
Henry 8
James 6
Robert 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Frank 2
George 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Barthm. 1
Bertie 1
Chas.Fredk. 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Frs. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
L. 1
Laban 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Stapleton 1
Wm. 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Hollett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hollett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Hollett surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hollett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 370 in 2016. That gives Hollett a modern rank of #12,591.

What does the Hollett surname mean?

A variant of either the surname Holliday or Holloway.

What does the Hollett map show?

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