NameCensus.

UK surname

Holloran

From the Irish "Ó Labhráin" meaning "descendant of Labhran", an old Gaelic personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Holloran surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, up from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Winwick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Basildon and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holloran is 154 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 141.4%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2013

154 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holloran had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 122 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Holloran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holloran surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holloran 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1911 historical 120 #20,447
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 143 #22,133
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 133 #23,359
2004 modern 134 #23,425
2005 modern 131 #23,737
2006 modern 128 #24,267
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 139 #24,688
2011 modern 152 #23,101
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 154 #23,210
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Hollorans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Winwick, Gateshead and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Basildon, Knowsley, Halton and Leeds. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Winwick Lancashire
4 Gateshead Durham
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 020 Cornwall
2 Basildon 014 Basildon
3 Knowsley 010 Knowsley
4 Halton 007 Halton
5 Leeds 075 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holloran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holloran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Holloran, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Holloran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Holloran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Holloran is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holloran is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holloran falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Holloran 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Holloran

The surname Holloran is of Irish origin, emerging in the early medieval period around the 11th or 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Gaelic word "O'Lochráin," which translates to "descendant of Lochran." Lochran was a personal name meaning "small bright one" or "lamp bearer."

The Hollorans were primarily concentrated in the province of Munster, particularly in County Cork and County Kerry. Early records show various spellings such as O'Loughran, O'Lockrane, and O'Loghran, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In an entry from 1173, a person named Amhlaoibh O'Lochráin is mentioned as the chief poet of Desmond, a historical territory in Munster.

The Holloran name appears in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of letters and documents from the 16th century. In 1592, a David Holloran is recorded as receiving a pardon from Queen Elizabeth I for his involvement in the Desmond Rebellions.

A notable figure bearing the name was Donnchadh Mor O'Lochráin (c. 1591-1660), a celebrated Irish poet and historian from County Cork. His works provided valuable insights into the political and social landscape of 17th-century Ireland.

Another prominent Holloran was Eoghan O'Lochráin (1742-1798), a Catholic priest and member of the United Irishmen, a revolutionary republican movement. He was executed for his involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

In the 18th century, the Holloran name was associated with the town of Dromcollogher in County Limerick, where a family of that name held significant landholdings. One member, John Holloran (1760-1837), served as a member of the Irish Parliament.

The name Holloran has also been found in historical records from various parts of Ireland, including County Tipperary, County Waterford, and County Kilkenny, indicating the dispersal of the family over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holloran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holloran 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. Lancashire leads with 22 Hollorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 22 3.33x
Middlesex 10 1.80x
Essex 6 5.47x
Northumberland 5 6.04x
Yorkshire 4 0.73x
Lanarkshire 3 1.67x
Durham 2 1.21x
Hampshire 2 1.76x
Lincolnshire 2 2.25x
Derbyshire 1 1.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 8 Hollorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 106.10x.

Place Total Index
Bury 8 106.10x
St Marylebone London 7 23.58x
Barking 6 186.92x
Lowton 5 1111.11x
Byker 4 97.80x
Heap 4 114.29x
Bradford 2 14.99x
Govan 2 4.50x
Grainsby 2 6666.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 27.93x
Leeds 2 6.43x
St Michael Winchester 2 869.57x
Blackburn 1 5.70x
Derby All Sts 1 136.99x
Glasgow 1 3.13x
Hammersmith London 1 7.30x
Newton In Makerfield 1 49.51x
Poplar London 1 9.53x
Salford 1 5.15x
St Pancras London 1 2.23x
Tynemouth 1 22.57x
Wardleworth 1 26.53x
Wigan 1 10.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Patrick 5
James 3
John 3
Michael 3
Thomas 2
William 2
George 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1

FAQ

Holloran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holloran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Holloran surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holloran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Holloran a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Holloran surname mean?

From the Irish "Ó Labhráin" meaning "descendant of Labhran", an old Gaelic personal name.

What does the Holloran map show?

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