UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English words "hol" (hollow) and "weg" (way), referring to someone living near a hollowed-out or sunken path.
In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Hollway surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #20,709 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton and Bideford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hollway is 262 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.4%.
1881 census count
92
Ranked #20,709
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1891
262 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hollway surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hollway surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 113 | #15,815 |
| 1861 | historical | 174 | #13,483 |
| 1881 | historical | 92 | #20,709 |
| 1891 | historical | 262 | #12,297 |
| 1901 | historical | 107 | #21,955 |
| 1911 | historical | 158 | #17,277 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 88 | #29,131 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 88 | #29,284 |
| 2001 | modern | 81 | #29,828 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 72 | #31,281 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 70 | #31,912 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 69 | #33,532 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 70 | #33,782 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton, Bideford, St Mary Islington and Chelsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton | Somerset |
| 3 | Bideford | Devon |
| 4 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Chelsea | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hollway surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hollway, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hollway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hollway household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hollway is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hollway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hollway, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HOLLWAY is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have emerged from the Old English word "holh," meaning a hollow or sunken place, combined with the word "weg," meaning a way or path. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone residing near a sunken pathway or a hollow road.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, compiled in 1275, which mentions a "William de la Hollewey." This indicates that the name was present in the Norfolk region during the medieval period.
The HOLLWAY surname has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Holloway in Middlesex and Holloway in Derbyshire. These place names likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname by families residing in those areas.
In the 16th century, the HOLLWAY surname appeared in several historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1576, which listed a "Robert Holloway." This suggests that the name had become more widespread by that time.
Notable individuals with the HOLLWAY surname throughout history include Sir John Hollway (1610-1689), an English lawyer and politician who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench. Another prominent figure was James Hollway (1754-1841), a British naval officer who participated in several battles during the Napoleonic Wars.
Other notable individuals bearing the HOLLWAY surname include Thomas Hollway (1659-1688), an English clergyman and author, and John Hollway (1777-1837), a British architect known for his work on several churches in London.
Furthermore, the HOLLWAY surname has been recorded with various spellings over time, such as Holloway, Holoway, and Hollway, reflecting the regional variations and adaptations of the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hollway surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 13 Hollways recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.10x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 13 | 9.10x |
| Staffordshire | 13 | 4.34x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.13x |
| Devon | 9 | 4.87x |
| Gloucestershire | 8 | 4.60x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.91x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.66x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.51x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.32x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 1.05x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 3.00x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.29x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.10x |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 3.65x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.72x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.70x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.73x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Bromwich in Staffordshire leads with 7 Hollways recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Bromwich | 7 | 40.82x |
| West Derby | 7 | 22.72x |
| Bideford | 6 | 303.03x |
| Hemington | 6 | 3333.33x |
| Leeds | 6 | 12.08x |
| Wincanton | 6 | 810.81x |
| Bushbury | 5 | 925.93x |
| Islington London | 5 | 5.81x |
| Clifton | 4 | 45.45x |
| Folkestone | 4 | 68.14x |
| Houghton Le Spring | 4 | 218.58x |
| Barony | 3 | 4.13x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 3 | 51.72x |
| Barnsley | 2 | 22.05x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 2 | 23.50x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 7.48x |
| East Buckland | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Oxford St Mary Magdalen | 2 | 307.69x |
| Reading St Giles | 2 | 30.58x |
| Clutton | 1 | 322.58x |
| Coltishall | 1 | 344.83x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 11.10x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 13.55x |
| Longford | 1 | 769.23x |
| Lymington | 1 | 74.63x |
| Ruislip | 1 | 227.27x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.60x |
| Southwark St Olave | 1 | 147.06x |
| Sunbury | 1 | 93.46x |
| Tadley | 1 | 322.58x |
| Tiverton | 1 | 31.45x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 16.95x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hollway surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hollway surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Hollway surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Hollway a modern rank of #33,304.
A surname derived from the Old English words "hol" (hollow) and "weg" (way), referring to someone living near a hollowed-out or sunken path.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hollway bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.