UK surname
An English topographic surname derived from a place containing a meadow or hollow.
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Hollinghead surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Bride, London parishes and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hollinghead is 116 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 81.5%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1891
116 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hollinghead surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hollinghead surname density by area, 1891 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 | 58 | #22,928 |
| 1861 | historical | 49 | #27,768 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 45 | #29,156 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Bride, London parishes, Wolstanton, Saxelby and Lambeth. 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 | St Bride | London (Central Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Saxelby | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hollinghead 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 Hollinghead, 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 Hollinghead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hollinghead 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, Hollinghead 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 Hollinghead is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hollinghead, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hollinghead has its origins in England, with records indicating its usage dating back to the late medieval period. The name is believed to have derived from a locational name, referring to a place where holly trees grew abundantly. One of the earliest known spellings of the name was "Hollynghead," which was found in records from Lancashire in the 15th century.
Hollinghead is a combination of two Old English words: "holen" meaning holly, and "heafod" meaning head or hill. This suggests that the name may have referred to a settlement or a topographical feature characterized by the presence of holly trees on a hilltop or elevated area.
In the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and settlements compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are entries that could potentially be related to the name Hollinghead or its variants. For instance, the village of "Holehuise" in Shropshire and "Holehurste" in Hampshire bear similarities to the name's origins.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Hollinghead was John Hollinghead, who was born in Lancashire around 1520. Another notable figure was Sir Ralph Hollinghead (1588-1672), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Preston during the reign of Charles I.
In the 17th century, the surname Hollinghead was also found in Yorkshire, with William Hollinghead (1632-1698) being a prominent landowner and local magistrate in the area. Another individual of note was Robert Hollinghead (1675-1745), a clergyman who served as the Vicar of Warrington in Cheshire.
Moving into the 18th century, Thomas Hollinghead (1718-1789) was a renowned clockmaker from Prescot, Lancashire, whose timepieces were highly regarded for their craftsmanship and accuracy. In the 19th century, John Hollinghead (1812-1887) was a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Cheshire, known for his contributions to the local community.
While the surname Hollinghead may have originated from a specific geographical location, over time it has spread across various regions of England and beyond, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hollinghead 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. Staffordshire leads with 11 Hollingheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.38x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 11 | 12.38x |
| Bedfordshire | 4 | 29.35x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 11.27x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 6.85x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.38x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.38x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.25x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.51x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burntwood Edial in Staffordshire leads with 9 Hollingheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 1578.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Burntwood Edial | 9 | 1578.95x |
| Luton | 4 | 169.49x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 4 | 43.57x |
| Aslackby | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 4.52x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 45.66x |
| Kingswinford | 1 | 30.96x |
| Lancaster | 1 | 53.76x |
| Leeds | 1 | 6.79x |
| Melton Mowbray Freeby | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Newhaven | 1 | 277.78x |
| St Andrew Holborn London | 1 | 87.72x |
| Syston | 1 | 370.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hollinghead surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Hollinghead surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Hollinghead a modern rank of #38,264.
An English topographic surname derived from a place containing a meadow or hollow.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hollinghead 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.