NameCensus.

UK surname

Hollis

From a place name meaning "holly trees" in Old English or a nickname for a person with holly-like qualities.

In the 1881 census there were 4,141 people recorded with the Hollis surname, ranking it #1,094 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,881, ranked #1,145, down from #1,094 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Wakefield and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hollis is 6,227 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.0%.

1881 census count

4,141

Ranked #1,094

Modern count

5,881

2016, ranked #1,145

Peak year

1998

6,227 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hollis had 4,141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,094 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,881 in 2016, ranked #1,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,738 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hollis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hollis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hollis 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 2,650 #1,117
1861 historical 2,294 #1,283
1881 historical 4,141 #1,094
1891 historical 4,313 #1,103
1901 historical 5,344 #1,054
1911 historical 5,738 #913
1997 modern 5,985 #1,095
1998 modern 6,227 #1,093
1999 modern 6,214 #1,104
2000 modern 6,191 #1,095
2001 modern 6,034 #1,101
2002 modern 6,134 #1,105
2003 modern 5,954 #1,114
2004 modern 5,952 #1,114
2005 modern 5,877 #1,106
2006 modern 5,889 #1,106
2007 modern 5,900 #1,116
2008 modern 5,912 #1,124
2009 modern 6,019 #1,125
2010 modern 6,097 #1,134
2011 modern 5,992 #1,135
2012 modern 5,847 #1,136
2013 modern 5,963 #1,137
2014 modern 6,013 #1,139
2015 modern 5,934 #1,144
2016 modern 5,881 #1,145

Geography

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Where Hollis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Wakefield, Dudley, Huntingdonshire and Broadland. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
2 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
3 Dudley 008 Dudley
4 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
5 Broadland 018 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hollis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hollis

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Hollis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hollis 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

Hollis falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hollis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hollis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hollis

The surname HOLLIS is of English origin, with roots traceable back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'hol' meaning 'hollow' and 'hyrst' meaning 'wooded hill'. The combination of these words suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a hollowed-out or sunken area in a forested region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Holis" and "Holis de la Hulle". This ancient record indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.

The HOLLIS surname is often associated with various place names in England, such as Hollis Hill in Devon and Hollish in Dorset. The spellings of these place names have evolved over time, reflecting the fluidity of language and the influence of local dialects.

In the 13th century, a notable individual named Walter de Hollis was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire. This record provides an early glimpse into the historical presence of the HOLLIS name in English society.

During the 16th century, a prominent figure named John Hollis (1564-1637) served as the Lord Mayor of London. His tenure as the city's chief magistrate from 1611 to 1612 further solidified the HOLLIS name's significance in England's history.

Another notable bearer of the HOLLIS surname was Denzil Hollis (1598-1680), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament. He played an influential role during the turbulent period of the English Civil War, aligning himself with the Parliamentarian cause against the monarchy.

In the realm of literature, the English poet Thomas Hollis (1720-1774) gained recognition for his advocacy of liberty and his translations of ancient Greek and Latin works. His literary contributions left a lasting impact on the intellectual landscape of the 18th century.

The HOLLIS name has also been associated with various military figures, such as Sir Roger Hollis (1905-1973), a British intelligence officer who served as the Director-General of MI5, the United Kingdom's domestic security service, from 1956 to 1965.

Throughout its history, the HOLLIS surname has maintained a strong presence across England, with various branches and families contributing to the rich tapestry of the nation's heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hollis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hollis 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 599 Hollis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 599 1.48x
Hampshire 327 3.94x
Lancashire 323 0.67x
Staffordshire 309 2.26x
Warwickshire 258 2.53x
Surrey 255 1.29x
Derbyshire 222 3.51x
Northamptonshire 217 5.70x
Yorkshire 206 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 154 2.82x
Kent 150 1.09x
Shropshire 132 3.78x
Oxfordshire 131 5.25x
Leicestershire 96 2.14x
Worcestershire 77 1.46x
Norfolk 71 1.14x
Berkshire 61 2.01x
Buckinghamshire 61 2.49x
Lincolnshire 51 0.79x
Sussex 49 0.72x
Essex 43 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 37 1.44x
Durham 35 0.29x
Bedfordshire 32 1.53x
Cheshire 32 0.36x
Huntingdonshire 26 3.24x
Somerset 24 0.37x
Rutland 18 6.06x
Denbighshire 16 1.05x
Gloucestershire 14 0.18x
Devon 13 0.15x
Wigtownshire 13 2.42x
Midlothian 11 0.20x
Northumberland 11 0.18x
Wiltshire 10 0.28x
Renfrewshire 9 0.29x
Suffolk 9 0.18x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.16x
Lanarkshire 5 0.04x
Monmouthshire 5 0.17x
Royal Navy 5 1.04x
Flintshire 4 0.37x
Westmorland 4 0.45x
Angus 3 0.08x
Cornwall 3 0.07x
Dorset 2 0.08x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.06x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Herefordshire 1 0.06x
Inverness-shire 1 0.08x
Kincardineshire 1 0.20x
Peeblesshire 1 0.53x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 81 Hollis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.

Place Total Index
Aston 81 2.88x
Portsea 69 4.25x
Bethnal Green London 60 3.42x
Lambeth 56 1.59x
Paddington London 52 3.50x
St Pancras London 48 1.47x
Birmingham 42 1.24x
Shoreditch London 40 2.28x
Dawley 38 29.89x
St Marylebone London 38 1.76x
Islington London 36 0.92x
Sedgley 36 7.10x
Chelsea London 35 2.87x
Camberwell 34 1.32x
Newington 34 2.28x
Nottingham St Mary 34 2.41x
Northwood 33 27.95x
Godshill 32 167.28x
Greenwich 31 4.81x
Ilkeston 29 16.34x
Shipley 29 13.94x
Westminster St John 29 5.89x
Bermondsey 28 2.33x
Whippingham 28 44.61x
Battersea 27 1.81x
Boughton 27 604.03x
Leicester St Margaret 27 2.47x
Liverpool 27 0.93x
Derby St Werburgh 26 7.11x
Ryde 26 14.60x
Stoke Upon Trent 26 1.80x
Bromley London 25 2.81x
Kensington London 25 1.11x
Oldham 25 1.61x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 24 6.43x
Everton 22 1.44x
Harbury 22 132.85x
Kingswinford 22 4.44x
Newark Upon Trent 22 11.23x
Whittlesey St Mary St 22 24.59x
Wolverhampton 22 2.10x
Carisbrooke 21 18.25x
Brighton 20 1.45x
Hackney London 20 0.88x
West Derby 20 1.42x
Chiswick 19 8.60x
Mursley 19 241.12x
Northampton St Sepulchre 18 9.30x
St George Hanover Square 18 2.53x
Wellingborough 18 9.41x
Cottesmore 17 300.35x
Great Yarmouth 17 3.30x
Long Buckby 17 48.32x
Milton In Milton 17 28.98x
Over Darwen 17 4.43x
Chesterfield 16 6.74x
Holdenhurst 16 7.36x
West Ham 16 0.91x
Youlgreave 16 87.34x
Bicester Market End 15 32.70x
Clewer 15 12.06x
Coleshill 15 45.87x
Foleshill 15 13.98x
Handsworth 15 4.46x
Harborne 15 3.43x
Mile End Old Town London 15 1.74x
Church Gresley 14 13.90x
Coggs 14 145.68x
Mansfield 14 7.42x
Nether Hallam 14 2.58x
Snenton 14 6.54x
Tutbury 14 42.07x
Winshill 14 34.68x
Blackburn 13 1.02x
Braunston 13 87.60x
New Windsor 13 12.74x
Oxford St Giles 13 10.91x
Plumstead 13 2.83x
Sheepshed 13 21.16x
Tardebigg 13 161.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 311
Sarah 157
Elizabeth 145
Ann 90
Jane 75
Emma 71
Eliza 68
Annie 62
Ellen 54
Emily 54
Alice 47
Louisa 38
Martha 36
Hannah 35
Fanny 34
Edith 30
Margaret 30
Charlotte 29
Kate 26
Catherine 25
Florence 25
Frances 24
Harriet 24
Caroline 22
Clara 22
Ada 19
Harriett 18
Maria 18
Anne 16
Amelia 15
Lucy 14
Minnie 13
Sophia 13
Ethel 11
Gertrude 11
Julia 11
Rebecca 11
Agnes 10
Susan 10
Eleanor 9
Elizth. 9
Rachel 9
Esther 8
Isabella 8
Jessie 8
Amy 7
Rose 7
Laura 6
Matilda 6
Nellie 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 273
John 231
George 163
Thomas 136
James 109
Henry 97
Charles 94
Joseph 74
Alfred 57
Walter 57
Edward 56
Arthur 37
Frederick 37
Robert 37
Harry 33
Samuel 28
Richard 24
Albert 23
Edwin 22
Herbert 22
Frank 17
Fredrick 13
David 12
Ernest 11
Benjamin 10
Percy 9
Elijah 8
Francis 8
Fred 8
Stephen 8
Isaac 7
Thos. 7
Wm. 7
Edmund 5
Jesse 5
Tom 5
Willm. 5
Amos 4
Earnest 4
Fredk. 4
Geo. 4
Jas. 4
Mark 4
Peter 4
Philip 4
Ralph 4
Sidney 4
Andrew 3
Lovell 3
Sydney 3

FAQ

Hollis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hollis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,141 people were recorded with the Hollis surname. That placed it at #1,094 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hollis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,881 in 2016. That gives Hollis a modern rank of #1,145.

What does the Hollis surname mean?

From a place name meaning "holly trees" in Old English or a nickname for a person with holly-like qualities.

What does the Hollis map show?

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