NameCensus.

UK surname

Holloway

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a sunken road or hollow way.

In the 1881 census there were 9,143 people recorded with the Holloway surname, ranking it #462 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,294, ranked #531, down from #462 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, County Durham and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holloway is 12,939 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.5%.

1881 census count

9,143

Ranked #462

Modern count

12,294

2016, ranked #531

Peak year

1999

12,939 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holloway had 9,143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #462 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,294 in 2016, ranked #531.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12,692 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holloway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holloway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holloway 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 5,595 #496
1861 historical 5,420 #511
1881 historical 9,143 #462
1891 historical 9,756 #452
1901 historical 11,411 #460
1911 historical 12,692 #386
1997 modern 12,279 #502
1998 modern 12,907 #493
1999 modern 12,939 #496
2000 modern 12,719 #503
2001 modern 12,413 #504
2002 modern 12,645 #505
2003 modern 12,269 #507
2004 modern 12,367 #506
2005 modern 12,055 #514
2006 modern 11,997 #517
2007 modern 12,097 #518
2008 modern 12,106 #521
2009 modern 12,442 #517
2010 modern 12,581 #525
2011 modern 12,526 #517
2012 modern 12,223 #524
2013 modern 12,582 #520
2014 modern 12,550 #525
2015 modern 12,391 #528
2016 modern 12,294 #531

Geography

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Where Holloways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lambeth and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, County Durham, Wiltshire, Test Valley and Malvern Hills. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 007 Powys
2 County Durham 045 County Durham
3 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire
4 Test Valley 004 Test Valley
5 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holloway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holloway

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

Holloway is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holloway falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Holloway

The surname Holloway is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from various places named Holloway, which means "hollow way" or "sunken road." The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Holloweia" and "Holanweia."

The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "hol" meaning "hollow" and "weg" meaning "way" or "path." These were likely referring to the sunken paths or roads that led through valleys or low-lying areas. The name was initially given to those who lived near or by such paths or roads.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Roger de Holawey, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Another early bearer of the name was William de Holewey, who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1260.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Holleway, Holoway, and Holwey. One notable individual from this period was John Holwey, who was born in 1340 and served as a member of the Parliament of England in 1377.

During the 15th century, the surname began to take on its modern spelling of Holloway. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this spelling was Thomas Holloway, who was born in 1420 and served as a member of the Privy Council of England under King Henry VI.

In the 16th century, the name became more widespread, and several notable individuals emerged. One of the most famous was John Holloway, a celebrated English theologian and author who was born in 1501 and wrote several influential works on religious topics.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Richard Holloway, who was born in 1550 and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1599. He was also a prominent merchant and philanthropist, known for his contributions to the city's infrastructure and charitable organizations.

As the surname spread across England, it was also associated with various place names, such as Holloway in London, Holloway in Derbyshire, and Holloway in Worcestershire. These places likely derived their names from the same Old English roots as the surname.

Throughout history, the Holloway surname has been carried by various individuals from different walks of life, including scholars, politicians, writers, and artists. Some other notable bearers of the name include the poet Thomas Holloway (1800-1835), the author and critic John Holloway (1920-1999), and the English composer and musician Robin Holloway (born 1943).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holloway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holloway 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 1,566 Holloways recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.75x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,566 1.75x
Surrey 840 1.93x
Hampshire 781 4.26x
Staffordshire 561 1.86x
Worcestershire 559 4.78x
Warwickshire 414 1.83x
Kent 410 1.34x
Berkshire 326 4.85x
Wiltshire 322 4.07x
Gloucestershire 312 1.78x
Lancashire 270 0.25x
Sussex 265 1.76x
Dorset 261 4.44x
Oxfordshire 222 4.02x
Devon 214 1.15x
Yorkshire 181 0.20x
Somerset 163 1.13x
Derbyshire 160 1.14x
Northamptonshire 141 1.67x
Buckinghamshire 139 2.57x
Nottinghamshire 127 1.05x
Shropshire 104 1.35x
Hertfordshire 89 1.44x
Cheshire 83 0.42x
Essex 77 0.44x
Herefordshire 65 1.77x
Glamorgan 64 0.41x
Cumberland 51 0.66x
Leicestershire 50 0.50x
Lincolnshire 44 0.31x
Monmouthshire 36 0.56x
Montgomeryshire 34 1.66x
Bedfordshire 33 0.71x
Cornwall 21 0.21x
Durham 20 0.08x
Norfolk 20 0.15x
Royal Navy 20 1.88x
Cambridgeshire 17 0.30x
Northumberland 17 0.13x
Carmarthenshire 16 0.42x
Huntingdonshire 15 0.84x
Radnorshire 13 1.80x
Denbighshire 10 0.30x
Lanarkshire 10 0.03x
Wigtownshire 6 0.50x
Channel Islands 5 0.19x
Stirlingshire 5 0.15x
Inverness-shire 3 0.11x
Midlothian 3 0.03x
Suffolk 3 0.03x
Brecknockshire 2 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.07x
Flintshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 162 Holloways recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 162 2.15x
Lambeth 162 2.08x
Aston 150 2.41x
St Pancras London 123 1.71x
Islington London 114 1.31x
Bethnal Green London 109 2.80x
Oldbury 104 18.09x
Kensington London 102 2.05x
West Bromwich 98 5.67x
Camberwell 87 1.52x
Shoreditch London 85 2.19x
Battersea 83 2.52x
Hammersmith London 83 3.76x
Harborne 83 8.57x
Paddington London 76 2.31x
St Marylebone London 74 1.55x
Croydon 66 2.73x
St George Hanover Square 65 4.12x
Brighton 63 2.07x
Tipton 63 6.81x
Hackney London 59 1.18x
Chelsea London 55 2.04x
Rowley Regis 54 6.41x
Dudley 53 3.73x
Southampton St Mary 53 4.59x
Mile End Old Town London 52 2.73x
Portsea 44 1.22x
Millbrook 41 8.87x
Bermondsey 40 1.50x
Poole St James 40 18.12x
Richmond 40 6.55x
Reading St Giles 39 5.92x
Wolverhampton 39 1.68x
Deptford St Paul 35 1.49x
Westbury 34 18.40x
Hornsey 33 2.92x
Kingswinford 32 2.92x
Maidstone 32 3.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 32 1.78x
Tottenham 32 2.24x
Warrington 32 2.54x
Christchurch 31 7.79x
Hasbury 30 39.25x
Newington 29 0.88x
Andover 28 16.16x
Kings Norton 27 2.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 27 0.84x
Alton 26 18.81x
Caversham 26 23.51x
Greenwich 26 1.82x
Kinson 26 22.65x
Romsey Infra 26 41.83x
St George In East London 26 3.09x
Stapleton 26 7.81x
Erith 25 8.31x
Hampstead London 25 1.79x
Kidderminster Borough 25 3.65x
Whitchurch 25 42.95x
Willesden 25 2.96x
Alverstoke 24 3.61x
Clerkenwell London 24 1.14x
Eastbourne 24 3.46x
Everton 24 0.71x
Hillingdon 24 8.41x
Rickmansworth 24 14.13x
Southwark Christchurch 24 5.72x
St Martin In Fields 24 4.48x
Towcester 24 27.64x
Walcot 24 3.13x
Wandsworth 24 2.79x
Westminster St John 24 2.20x
Bristol St George 23 2.83x
Holdenhurst 23 4.78x
Liverpool 23 0.36x
West Derby 23 0.74x
Whitehaven 23 5.60x
Wotton Under Edge 23 22.23x
Cheltenham 22 1.62x
Yardley 22 7.36x
Walsall Foreign 21 1.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 563
Sarah 332
Elizabeth 313
Ann 165
Jane 162
Eliza 159
Emma 158
Annie 148
Ellen 146
Alice 144
Emily 135
Hannah 84
Martha 81
Harriet 75
Louisa 73
Florence 72
Caroline 71
Fanny 65
Edith 63
Kate 63
Charlotte 62
Maria 55
Clara 51
Ada 49
Lucy 46
Frances 43
Anne 42
Rose 40
Margaret 37
Amelia 32
Harriett 31
Catherine 30
Susan 30
Helen 25
Agnes 24
Esther 24
Sophia 23
Gertrude 22
Julia 22
Jessie 17
Minnie 17
Amy 16
Matilda 16
Bertha 15
Phoebe 15
Rebecca 15
Rosa 15
Eleanor 14
Mabel 14
Anna 13

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 570
John 434
George 389
James 266
Henry 256
Thomas 255
Charles 219
Joseph 145
Alfred 112
Frederick 111
Edward 103
Samuel 96
Arthur 95
Albert 85
Robert 79
Richard 72
Harry 69
Walter 69
Frank 56
Herbert 43
Ernest 40
Benjamin 37
Edwin 35
Francis 34
Wm. 27
David 25
Thos. 20
Geo. 19
Chas. 15
Isaac 15
Stephen 15
Daniel 13
Fredrick 13
Fred 12
Fredk. 12
Sidney 12
Tom 12
Frederic 10
Jesse 10
Percy 9
Saml. 9
Willm. 9
Enoch 7
Jno. 7
Louis 7
Jas. 6
Mark 6
Martin 6
Peter 6
Robt. 6

FAQ

Holloway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holloway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9,143 people were recorded with the Holloway surname. That placed it at #462 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holloway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,294 in 2016. That gives Holloway a modern rank of #531.

What does the Holloway surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a sunken road or hollow way.

What does the Holloway map show?

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