NameCensus.

UK surname

Hollingshead

From the English place name, likely referring to someone who lived near a holly grove on a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 349 people recorded with the Hollingshead surname, ranking it #8,778 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 442, ranked #10,943, down from #8,778 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Shiffnal and Saxelby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Torbay and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hollingshead is 511 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.6%.

1881 census count

349

Ranked #8,778

Modern count

442

2016, ranked #10,943

Peak year

1998

511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hollingshead had 349 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,778 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 442 in 2016, ranked #10,943.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 431 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hollingshead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hollingshead surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hollingshead 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 232 #10,535
1881 historical 349 #8,778
1891 historical 304 #11,005
1901 historical 431 #8,982
1911 historical 412 #9,097
1997 modern 493 #9,399
1998 modern 511 #9,431
1999 modern 508 #9,535
2000 modern 496 #9,689
2001 modern 483 #9,709
2002 modern 498 #9,664
2003 modern 479 #9,793
2004 modern 469 #9,983
2005 modern 454 #10,144
2006 modern 446 #10,301
2007 modern 455 #10,239
2008 modern 443 #10,559
2009 modern 457 #10,532
2010 modern 438 #11,140
2011 modern 437 #11,036
2012 modern 446 #10,733
2013 modern 445 #10,928
2014 modern 437 #11,176
2015 modern 442 #10,977
2016 modern 442 #10,943

Geography

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Where Hollingsheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Shiffnal, Saxelby and Cannock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Torbay, Basingstoke and Deane, Purbeck and Watford. 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 Shiffnal Shropshire
4 Saxelby Leicestershire
5 Cannock Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 003 Melton
2 Torbay 001 Torbay
3 Basingstoke and Deane 018 Basingstoke and Deane
4 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
5 Watford 002 Watford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hollingshead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hollingshead

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hollingshead is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hollingshead is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hollingshead falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hollingshead

The surname Hollingshead originated in England, specifically in the county of Lancashire. The name can be traced back to the 13th century and is believed to derive from the Old English words "holh" meaning "hollow" or "sunken place" and "ingas" meaning "people of," combined with "heafod" meaning "head." Together, these elements suggest that the name referred to a person living near a hollow area or sunken valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hollingshead appears in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1285, where a William del Hollingsheved is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name originally referred to a geographic location, likely a place called Hollingshead.

In the 14th century, the Hollingsheads were well-established landowners in the Lancashire area. Records from this period mention a John de Hollingshead, who was born around 1320 and held lands in the township of Eccleston.

During the English Civil War in the mid-17th century, a notable figure named Richard Hollingshead (1607-1654) served as a captain in the Parliamentarian army. He fought against the Royalists and was involved in the siege of Manchester in 1642.

In the late 18th century, a prominent member of the family was James Hollingshead (1751-1831), a successful merchant and landowner in Lancashire. He was instrumental in the development of the town of Ormskirk and served as its mayor.

Another noteworthy individual was Samuel Hollingshead (1810-1886), a Methodist minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment" and "The Sacrifice of the Son of God."

In the realm of literature, Michael Hollingshead (1919-1992) was a British writer and counterculture figure. He co-authored the book "The Quintessence of the Sixties" and was known for his association with the psychedelic movement of the 1960s.

Throughout history, the Hollingshead surname has been recorded with various spellings, such as Hollingshead, Hollingesheved, Hollingeshed, and Hollingshed, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hollingshead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hollingshead 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. Middlesex leads with 64 Hollingsheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 64 1.88x
Staffordshire 49 4.26x
Cheshire 38 5.06x
Leicestershire 38 10.07x
Derbyshire 33 6.19x
Lancashire 22 0.54x
Surrey 21 1.27x
Shropshire 20 6.80x
Lincolnshire 11 2.02x
Worcestershire 11 2.47x
Durham 9 0.89x
Warwickshire 9 1.05x
Yorkshire 7 0.21x
Sussex 6 1.05x
Buckinghamshire 5 2.43x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.44x
Bedfordshire 1 0.57x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Essex 1 0.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Smallwood in Cheshire leads with 23 Hollingsheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 3432.84x.

Place Total Index
Smallwood 23 3432.84x
Walsall Foreign 20 33.69x
Hammersmith London 14 16.69x
Cannock 13 64.84x
Stafford St Mary 12 73.76x
Bethnal Green London 10 6.76x
Fairfield 10 280.90x
Holwell 9 2903.23x
Saxelby 9 15000.00x
St Pancras London 9 3.28x
Worcester St Peter 9 107.02x
Ashborne 8 220.99x
Owston 8 4000.00x
Lambeth 7 2.36x
Shifnal 7 87.72x
Bermondsey 6 5.92x
Bishopwearmouth 6 6.90x
Brighton 6 5.18x
Cheadle 6 41.81x
Clifton 6 198.02x
Hendon 6 48.98x
Madeley 6 55.66x
Pilsley 6 340.91x
Toxteth Park 6 4.39x
Aslackby 5 943.40x
Horton In Bradford 5 9.49x
Olney 5 175.44x
Shavington Cum Gresty 5 403.23x
Sutton Coldfield 5 55.43x
Cheswardine 4 317.46x
Dalby Great 4 754.72x
Fulham London 4 8.10x
Alvaston 3 197.37x
Birmingham 3 1.05x
Manthorpe Cum Little 3 72.12x
Melbourne 3 82.42x
Southwick 3 31.28x
Barsby 2 666.67x
Battersea 2 1.60x
Chesterfield 2 10.01x
Crumpsall 2 21.01x
Dudley 2 3.70x
Hackney London 2 1.05x
Hampstead London 2 3.77x
Leicester All Sts 2 26.99x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.17x
Liverpool 2 0.82x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.76x
Newington 2 1.59x
Radford 2 8.58x
Romiley 2 94.34x
Rotherham 2 10.52x
Southwark Christchurch 2 12.54x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.33x
St Mark Lincoln 2 172.41x
St Martin In Fields 2 9.81x
St Marylebone London 2 1.10x
St Paul Covent Garden 2 58.65x
Tong 2 338.98x
Acton 1 5.01x
Acton Trussell 1 156.25x
Ardwick 1 2.74x
Aston 1 0.42x
Bilston 1 4.49x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 1 140.85x
Caterham 1 13.64x
Derby St Werburgh 1 3.25x
Eaton Socon 1 36.10x
Hanwell 1 16.56x
Kirkdale 1 1.47x
Leicester St Mary 1 3.28x
Macclesfield 1 2.99x
Manchester 1 0.55x
Middleton In Oldham 1 8.26x
Shoreditch London 1 0.68x
St Giles In Fields London 1 5.99x
Stretford 1 4.50x
Walthamstow 1 4.13x
Whitechapel London 1 2.98x
Wolstanton 1 2.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 22
George 17
Henry 9
James 9
Thomas 8
Charles 6
Arthur 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Herbert 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Chas. 2
Ernest 2
Hy. 2
Peter 2
Reuben 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Cuthbert 1
Cyril 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
F.James 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Handel 1
Hugh 1
Isaiah 1
Jno. 1
Lenard 1
Levi 1
Mathew 1
Moses 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Sam. 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Hollingshead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hollingshead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 349 people were recorded with the Hollingshead surname. That placed it at #8,778 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hollingshead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 442 in 2016. That gives Hollingshead a modern rank of #10,943.

What does the Hollingshead surname mean?

From the English place name, likely referring to someone who lived near a holly grove on a hill.

What does the Hollingshead map show?

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