NameCensus.

UK surname

Holley

Derived from a place name meaning "holly wood or clearing" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,090 people recorded with the Holley surname, ranking it #3,649 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,286, ranked #2,839, up from #3,649 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Sampford Peverell, Burlescombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, Eastleigh and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holley is 2,474 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.7%.

1881 census count

1,090

Ranked #3,649

Modern count

2,286

2016, ranked #2,839

Peak year

1998

2,474 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holley had 1,090 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,649 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,286 in 2016, ranked #2,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,147 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holley 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 641 #4,050
1861 historical 776 #3,550
1881 historical 1,090 #3,649
1891 historical 1,319 #3,296
1901 historical 1,556 #3,310
1911 historical 2,147 #2,341
1997 modern 2,419 #2,601
1998 modern 2,474 #2,640
1999 modern 2,465 #2,664
2000 modern 2,451 #2,665
2001 modern 2,399 #2,662
2002 modern 2,437 #2,681
2003 modern 2,377 #2,687
2004 modern 2,360 #2,701
2005 modern 2,292 #2,727
2006 modern 2,313 #2,711
2007 modern 2,316 #2,737
2008 modern 2,335 #2,732
2009 modern 2,338 #2,793
2010 modern 2,413 #2,773
2011 modern 2,391 #2,764
2012 modern 2,295 #2,818
2013 modern 2,324 #2,830
2014 modern 2,350 #2,820
2015 modern 2,331 #2,811
2016 modern 2,286 #2,839

Geography

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Where Holleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sampford Peverell, Burlescombe and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, Eastleigh, Blaenau Gwent, Taunton Deane and Powys. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Sampford Peverell, Burlescombe Devon
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 004 Mid Devon
2 Eastleigh 006 Eastleigh
3 Blaenau Gwent 006 Blaenau Gwent
4 Taunton Deane 008 Taunton Deane
5 Powys 003 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Holley 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

Holley is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holley falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Holley

The surname Holley has its origins in England, and it is believed to have been derived from the Old English word "hol," which means "hollow" or "hole." This surname likely referred to someone who lived near a hollow or a depression in the ground.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Holley can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Hole." This suggests that the name has been in existence for over nine centuries and was likely used to identify individuals who lived in or near a particular location with a hollow or depression.

During the medieval period, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Holle," "Holye," and "Hollay," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. It is worth noting that many surnames originated from place names or descriptive terms related to a person's occupation, physical characteristics, or geographical location.

One notable bearer of the Holley surname was Sir John Holley, a prominent English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 16th century (born c. 1520, died 1591). Another distinguished individual with this surname was Robert Holley, an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics (born 1622, died 1699).

In the 17th century, the Holley family established themselves in the American colonies, with records showing that Thomas Holley arrived in Virginia in 1635. One of his descendants, Alexander Holley, was a renowned inventor and industrialist who played a crucial role in the development of the Bessemer steel process (born 1804, died 1887).

Another prominent figure with the Holley surname was Sallie Holley, an American educator and activist who fought for women's rights and racial equality in the late 19th century (born 1868, died 1933). Additionally, Hoyt Holley, an American historian and author, made significant contributions to the study of Southern history and culture (born 1898, died 1981).

While the Holley surname has its roots in England, it has spread throughout the world over the centuries, with bearers of the name making their mark in various fields, including politics, science, education, and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holley 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. Somerset leads with 155 Holleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.95x.

County Total Index
Somerset 155 8.95x
Middlesex 139 1.29x
Surrey 110 2.10x
Hampshire 74 3.36x
Norfolk 58 3.51x
Kent 57 1.55x
Wiltshire 54 5.68x
Gloucestershire 49 2.32x
Monmouthshire 46 5.91x
Devon 36 1.61x
Berkshire 30 3.71x
Oxfordshire 28 4.21x
Yorkshire 27 0.25x
Suffolk 22 1.68x
Herefordshire 21 4.76x
Dorset 20 2.83x
Bedfordshire 19 3.41x
Cheshire 17 0.72x
Lancashire 16 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 14 2.15x
Glamorgan 14 0.75x
Channel Islands 13 4.08x
Lanarkshire 11 0.32x
Essex 10 0.47x
Northamptonshire 10 0.99x
Shropshire 8 0.86x
Huntingdonshire 7 3.28x
Midlothian 6 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.59x
Hertfordshire 4 0.54x
Sussex 4 0.22x
Durham 3 0.09x
Leicestershire 3 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.21x
Warwickshire 3 0.11x
Brecknockshire 2 0.93x
Cornwall 2 0.16x
Roxburghshire 2 1.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.78x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedwellty in Monmouthshire leads with 24 Holleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.48x.

Place Total Index
Bedwellty 24 17.48x
Richmond 24 32.67x
Calne 23 117.41x
Oxford St Clement 21 125.22x
Wellington 20 85.18x
Kensington London 19 3.18x
Walcot 19 20.60x
Bristol St George 17 17.42x
Lambeth 16 1.71x
Leiston 14 155.56x
Pewsham 14 992.91x
St Marylebone London 14 2.44x
St Peters 14 82.45x
Welborne 14 1944.44x
Camberwell 13 1.89x
Shoreditch London 13 2.79x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 6.04x
Fordington 12 78.90x
Grouville 12 135.14x
Mortlake 12 51.37x
Ramsgate 12 20.03x
Wolverton 12 89.15x
Chelsea London 11 3.39x
Norwich St Margaret 11 428.02x
Stoke Newington London 11 13.12x
Twerton 11 61.59x
Chard 10 47.66x
Islington London 10 0.96x
Kingsclere 10 99.30x
Batheaston 9 151.77x
Chepstow 9 67.98x
Chippenham 9 45.11x
Clifton 9 8.44x
Eaton Socon 9 102.97x
Idle 9 18.20x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 4.16x
Everton 8 1.97x
Fordingbridge 8 66.72x
Nunney 8 213.33x
Old Monkland 8 5.79x
Reading St Giles 8 10.10x
Stockbridge 8 248.45x
Canterbury St Paul 7 106.22x
Chester Holy Trinity 7 62.89x
Hammersmith London 7 2.64x
Holcombe Rogus 7 259.26x
Isleworth 7 14.64x
Milverton 7 109.55x
Newington 7 1.76x
Newport 7 18.86x
Norwich St James 7 53.93x
Shrewsbury St Mary 7 19.08x
Wolborough 7 24.73x
Yeovil 7 19.89x
Basingstoke 6 23.66x
Bedford St Paul 6 15.70x
Bedminster 6 3.69x
Brightside Bierlow 6 2.87x
Croydon 6 2.06x
East Ham 6 15.22x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 1.03x
Garway 6 304.57x
Hackney London 6 0.99x
Lyndhurst 6 99.34x
Monckton Combe 6 108.30x
Norwich Liberty Of Town 6 545.45x
Paddington London 6 1.52x
Sculcoates 6 3.55x
Sherfield Upon Loddon 6 254.24x
Warrington 6 3.96x
Acol 5 458.72x
Cookham 5 19.86x
East Dereham 5 23.92x
Margate St John Baptist 5 7.44x
Okehampton 5 59.17x
Southwark Christchurch 5 9.92x
St Giles In Fields London 5 9.47x
St Pancras London 5 0.58x
Sway 5 169.49x
Tupsley 5 133.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 79
George 53
John 51
Henry 39
Thomas 31
Charles 28
James 23
Frederick 15
Joseph 13
Albert 12
Edward 12
Alfred 11
Frank 11
Robert 11
Arthur 8
Herbert 8
Ernest 7
Walter 7
Benjamin 6
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Harry 5
Sidney 5
Stephen 5
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Bienaime 3
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Fredk. 3
Levi 3
Michael 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Ben 2
Cornelius 2
Desire 2
Geo. 2
Jno. 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Chrles 1
Emmanuel 1
F. 1
F.F. 1

FAQ

Holley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,090 people were recorded with the Holley surname. That placed it at #3,649 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,286 in 2016. That gives Holley a modern rank of #2,839.

What does the Holley surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "holly wood or clearing" in Old English.

What does the Holley map show?

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