NameCensus.

UK surname

Holliday

One who lived near or worked on a holy day or religious festival.

In the 1881 census there were 3,921 people recorded with the Holliday surname, ranking it #1,158 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,744, ranked #1,170, down from #1,158 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holliday is 6,216 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.5%.

1881 census count

3,921

Ranked #1,158

Modern count

5,744

2016, ranked #1,170

Peak year

1999

6,216 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holliday had 3,921 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,158 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,744 in 2016, ranked #1,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,141 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holliday surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holliday surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holliday 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 2,710 #1,086
1861 historical 3,160 #915
1881 historical 3,921 #1,158
1891 historical 4,701 #991
1901 historical 5,422 #1,028
1911 historical 6,141 #841
1997 modern 5,963 #1,099
1998 modern 6,169 #1,098
1999 modern 6,216 #1,102
2000 modern 6,122 #1,114
2001 modern 5,948 #1,117
2002 modern 6,035 #1,129
2003 modern 5,844 #1,136
2004 modern 5,876 #1,126
2005 modern 5,699 #1,143
2006 modern 5,662 #1,146
2007 modern 5,665 #1,154
2008 modern 5,698 #1,152
2009 modern 5,850 #1,149
2010 modern 5,980 #1,152
2011 modern 5,941 #1,147
2012 modern 5,777 #1,154
2013 modern 5,856 #1,157
2014 modern 5,868 #1,162
2015 modern 5,805 #1,159
2016 modern 5,744 #1,170

Geography

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Where Hollidays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Lambeth and Holme Cultram. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale and Carlisle. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Holme Cultram Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 009 Allerdale
2 Allerdale 008 Allerdale
3 Allerdale 011 Allerdale
4 Allerdale 002 Allerdale
5 Carlisle 005 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holliday

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holliday

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Holliday is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Holliday is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holliday falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Holliday

The surname Holliday is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "halig" meaning holy, and "dæg" meaning day. It is believed to have originated as a name for someone who lived near a site or church dedicated to a religious holiday or feast day.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various documents and records. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard Holliday, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Halliday, Holydaye, and Hollyday. These variations reflect the different regional dialects and the evolving spelling conventions of the time.

The Holliday surname is also closely associated with certain place names in England, such as Holliday Hill in Worcestershire and Holliday Farm in Shropshire. These place names likely contributed to the adoption of the surname by people living in those areas.

Notable people throughout history with the surname Holliday include:

1. John Holliday (c. 1493 - 1555), an English churchman and scholar who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 2. Ben Holliday (1819 - 1887), an American entrepreneur and founder of the Overland Mail Company, which operated a stagecoach line across the American West. 3. Doc Holliday (1851 - 1887), an American gambler, gunfighter, and dentist who was involved in the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. 4. Judy Holliday (1921 - 1965), an American actress and comedian best known for her role in the film "Born Yesterday," for which she won an Academy Award. 5. Billie Holliday (1915 - 1959), an influential American jazz singer and songwriter, often referred to as "Lady Day" and renowned for her distinctive vocal style.

While the Holliday surname has its roots in England, it has since spread across the globe and can be found in various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges that have shaped human history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holliday families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holliday 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. Yorkshire leads with 852 Hollidays recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.24x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 852 2.24x
Cumberland 662 20.07x
Lancashire 356 0.78x
Middlesex 335 0.87x
Kent 230 1.76x
Surrey 219 1.17x
Durham 200 1.75x
Oxfordshire 96 4.06x
Norfolk 94 1.60x
Essex 91 1.20x
Gloucestershire 74 0.98x
Warwickshire 71 0.73x
Nottinghamshire 61 1.18x
Lincolnshire 60 0.98x
Cheshire 50 0.59x
Staffordshire 49 0.38x
Berkshire 48 1.67x
Wiltshire 46 1.36x
Worcestershire 43 0.86x
Northumberland 37 0.65x
Hampshire 36 0.46x
Hertfordshire 26 0.98x
Westmorland 22 2.61x
Lanarkshire 19 0.15x
Glamorgan 17 0.25x
Northamptonshire 17 0.47x
Huntingdonshire 13 1.71x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.48x
Derbyshire 11 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.41x
Somerset 10 0.16x
Sussex 10 0.15x
Suffolk 9 0.19x
Roxburghshire 8 1.15x
Berwickshire 7 1.51x
East Lothian 6 1.18x
Monmouthshire 6 0.22x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.47x
Devon 2 0.03x
Isle of Man 2 0.28x
Argyllshire 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 0.14x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.22x
Shropshire 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. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 93 Hollidays recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.34x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 93 4.34x
Workington 80 42.36x
Lambeth 63 1.89x
Gildersome 62 135.88x
Newington 45 3.18x
Aston 44 1.65x
Islington London 42 1.13x
Hackney London 39 1.82x
Pickering 37 77.41x
West Ham 37 2.22x
Preston 30 2.47x
Scarning 29 332.19x
Morley 28 14.19x
Dorchester 27 203.31x
Holy Trinity 27 2.96x
Battersea 26 1.84x
Blackburn 26 2.15x
Bradford 26 2.83x
Flimby 26 93.32x
Great Clifton 26 203.60x
Manchester 26 1.27x
Paddington London 25 1.77x
Drighlington 24 43.40x
St Pancras London 24 0.78x
Brightside Bierlow 23 3.09x
Chorley 23 9.02x
Holme St Cuthbert 23 234.69x
Harrington 21 52.75x
Lewisham 21 3.01x
Sheffield 21 1.74x
Blakeney 20 189.93x
St Cuthbert W O 20 12.44x
West Linton 20 346.02x
Wigton 20 40.44x
Croydon 19 1.83x
Folkestone 19 7.49x
Great Yarmouth 18 3.69x
Berkhampstead 17 28.64x
Bishopwearmouth 17 1.74x
Cheltenham 17 2.93x
Holbeck 17 6.76x
Low Holme 17 91.35x
Mile End Old Town London 17 2.09x
Birkenhead 16 2.37x
Cheetham 16 4.72x
Hunslet 16 2.70x
Martley 16 111.65x
St George In East London 16 4.44x
Toxteth Park 16 1.04x
Wakefield 16 5.49x
Eastoft 15 188.68x
Greenwich 15 2.46x
Handsworth 15 4.71x
High Ireby 15 1048.95x
Monkwearmouth 15 13.75x
Clarborough 14 36.25x
Eccleshill 14 15.15x
North Bierley 14 6.83x
Shoreditch London 14 0.84x
Westoe 14 2.17x
Wimbledon 14 6.68x
Bluntisham 13 91.23x
Eynsham 13 86.84x
Fareham 13 13.78x
Goole 13 20.44x
Govan 13 0.42x
Hulme 13 1.37x
Plumstead 13 2.98x
Strood 13 17.44x
Withington 13 8.88x
Atherton 12 7.25x
Darlington 12 2.73x
Eastwood 12 25.99x
Gomersal 12 6.77x
Hayton Mealo 12 310.08x
Holme Low 12 132.01x
Leckhampton 12 25.92x
Mirfield 12 5.76x
Staindrop 12 69.36x
Tottenham 12 1.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 261
Elizabeth 163
Sarah 161
Jane 113
Ann 82
Margaret 71
Annie 65
Emma 62
Alice 47
Hannah 47
Ellen 43
Martha 42
Eliza 36
Emily 35
Edith 24
Florence 23
Louisa 20
Charlotte 19
Fanny 18
Harriet 18
Esther 17
Maria 17
Isabella 16
Clara 15
Ada 14
Kate 14
Lucy 14
Rose 14
Agnes 13
Catherine 13
Rebecca 13
Anne 12
Harriett 12
Amy 11
Caroline 11
Susan 11
Elizth. 9
Jessie 9
Ruth 9
Sophia 9
Amelia 8
Eleanor 8
Frances 8
Gertrude 8
Matilda 8
Barbara 7
Betsy 7
May 7
Julia 6
Lydia 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 269
William 231
Thomas 147
George 124
James 114
Robert 79
Charles 75
Joseph 69
Henry 67
Edward 38
Arthur 34
Frederick 33
Alfred 30
Walter 30
Richard 28
Samuel 21
Albert 20
Harry 20
Wm. 20
Frank 18
Ernest 15
Herbert 15
Thos. 15
Andrew 11
Tom 11
Daniel 10
Francis 9
Edwin 8
Fred 8
Jonathan 8
Isaac 7
Joshua 7
Abraham 6
David 6
Fredk. 6
Jacob 6
Mathew 6
Peter 6
Stephen 6
Christopher 5
Sidney 5
Benjamin 4
Jesse 4
Josiah 4
Matthew 4
Percy 4
Wilson 4
Abram 3
Alexander 3
Solomon 3

FAQ

Holliday surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holliday surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,921 people were recorded with the Holliday surname. That placed it at #1,158 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holliday surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,744 in 2016. That gives Holliday a modern rank of #1,170.

What does the Holliday surname mean?

One who lived near or worked on a holy day or religious festival.

What does the Holliday map show?

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