NameCensus.

UK surname

Hollowell

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "holy spring" or "hollow spring."

In the 1881 census there were 329 people recorded with the Hollowell surname, ranking it #9,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 367, ranked #12,669, down from #9,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rugby, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Bedford and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hollowell is 454 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.6%.

1881 census count

329

Ranked #9,107

Modern count

367

2016, ranked #12,669

Peak year

1901

454 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hollowell had 329 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 367 in 2016, ranked #12,669.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 454 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hollowell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hollowell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hollowell 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 222 #9,597
1861 historical 258 #9,603
1881 historical 329 #9,107
1891 historical 424 #8,446
1901 historical 454 #8,657
1911 historical 449 #8,519
1997 modern 400 #11,013
1998 modern 412 #11,108
1999 modern 413 #11,180
2000 modern 407 #11,252
2001 modern 403 #11,163
2002 modern 406 #11,315
2003 modern 407 #11,136
2004 modern 389 #11,516
2005 modern 386 #11,493
2006 modern 377 #11,743
2007 modern 376 #11,925
2008 modern 384 #11,851
2009 modern 390 #11,950
2010 modern 383 #12,394
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 369 #12,443
2013 modern 366 #12,733
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 360 #12,880
2016 modern 367 #12,669

Geography

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Where Hollowells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rugby, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Lambeth and Warrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Bedford, Daventry, Wellingborough and Warrington. 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 Rugby Warwickshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Warrington Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 002 South Northamptonshire
2 Bedford 003 Bedford
3 Daventry 002 Daventry
4 Wellingborough 010 Wellingborough
5 Warrington 020 Warrington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hollowell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hollowell

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hollowell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hollowell is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hollowell falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hollowell

The surname Hollowell is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that once existed in England. One possible explanation suggests that the name is derived from the Old English words "hol" and "well," meaning "deep well" or "sunken well."

During the Middle Ages, many people adopted surnames based on their place of origin or residence. It is likely that the earliest bearers of the Hollowell surname hailed from a location with a distinctive well or water source, which gave rise to the name. Some historical records indicate variations in spelling, such as Hollowell, Hollewell, and Hollwell, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hollowell surname appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William de Holwelle. Another early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where a Richard de Hollewelle is mentioned.

Notable individuals with the Hollowell surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Hollowell (c. 1545-1612), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge. 2. John Hollowell (1644-1708), a prominent American planter and landowner in Virginia, known for his extensive landholdings and involvement in the colonial government. 3. Benjamin Hollowell (1695-1765), a British military officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. 4. Mary Hollowell (1753-1831), an American educator and advocate for women's education in the early United States, renowned for establishing one of the first schools for girls in Maryland. 5. William Hollowell (1825-1901), a British politician and industrialist who served as a Member of Parliament for the Northampton constituency and was a prominent figure in the local shoe manufacturing industry.

While the Hollowell surname is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to its English origins and the medieval period. The name's connection to a specific location or geographic feature highlights the importance of place names in the development of surnames during that era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hollowell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hollowell 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. Northamptonshire leads with 161 Hollowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.34x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 161 53.34x
Surrey 45 2.88x
Middlesex 24 0.75x
Warwickshire 17 2.10x
Oxfordshire 13 6.56x
Cheshire 12 1.69x
Lancashire 10 0.26x
Dorset 8 3.80x
Staffordshire 7 0.65x
Cambridgeshire 6 2.95x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.06x
Norfolk 4 0.81x
Durham 3 0.31x
Huntingdonshire 3 4.71x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.69x
Glamorgan 2 0.36x
Leicestershire 2 0.56x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Essex 1 0.16x
Hertfordshire 1 0.45x
Kent 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northampton Priory St in Northamptonshire leads with 36 Hollowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 198.79x.

Place Total Index
Northampton Priory St 36 198.79x
Brafield On Green 29 4915.25x
Kingsthorpe 28 835.82x
Lambeth 23 8.22x
Burford 11 639.53x
Bethnal Green London 10 7.17x
Hardingstone 9 312.50x
Northampton St Sepulchre 9 58.59x
Rugby 9 82.19x
Camberwell 8 3.90x
Parkstone 8 325.20x
Battersea 7 5.93x
Holcot 7 1707.32x
Weston Favell 7 1147.54x
Cogenhoe 6 1578.95x
Monks Coppenhall 6 22.45x
Northampton All Sts 6 58.59x
Braunston 5 423.73x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 20.70x
Hackleton 5 1190.48x
Rotherhithe 5 12.61x
St Pancras London 5 1.94x
West Haddon 5 510.20x
Wisbech St Mary 5 214.59x
Wolverhampton 5 6.00x
Penn 4 330.58x
Walsoken 4 134.68x
Warrington 4 8.86x
Bromley London 3 4.25x
Moss Side 3 14.97x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.68x
Woodstone 3 297.03x
Bishopwearmouth 2 2.44x
Bradford 2 2.60x
Denton 2 333.33x
Farthingstone 2 588.24x
Harbrough Magna 2 526.32x
Islington London 2 0.64x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.30x
Nantwich 2 24.30x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 28.61x
Paddington London 2 1.69x
Piddington 2 357.14x
St Marylebone London 2 1.17x
Stafford St Mary 2 13.05x
Wavertree 2 16.41x
Bermondsey 1 1.05x
Bicester Market End 1 27.47x
Birmingham 1 0.37x
Cheshunt 1 12.94x
Coyty Lower 1 27.55x
Grendon 1 166.67x
Hyde 1 4.78x
Macclesfield 1 3.18x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.51x
Northampton St Giles 1 8.70x
Oxford St Thomas 1 10.81x
Ravensthorpe 1 185.19x
Roath 1 3.94x
Southwark Christchurch 1 6.65x
Stranton 1 3.11x
West Derby 1 0.90x
West Thurrock 1 47.39x
Wisbech St Peter 1 9.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 18
Elizabeth 13
Eliza 10
Annie 9
Emma 9
Lucy 7
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Caroline 4
Maria 4
Charlotte 3
Susannah 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
L. 2
Lydia 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Susan 2
Adelaide 1
Alina 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Clarie 1
D. 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Fannie 1
Flora 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Lenor 1
Lilly 1
M.A.S. 1
Zipperah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 25
Thomas 16
George 11
James 6
Albert 5
Arthur 4
Charles 3
Ephraim 3
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Jesse 2
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Alek 1
Asaph 1
C.J. 1
Caleb 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ellis 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Nathaniel 1
Oliver 1
Roger 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
W. 1
Wilfrid 1

FAQ

Hollowell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hollowell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 329 people were recorded with the Hollowell surname. That placed it at #9,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hollowell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 367 in 2016. That gives Hollowell a modern rank of #12,669.

What does the Hollowell surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "holy spring" or "hollow spring."

What does the Hollowell map show?

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