NameCensus.

UK surname

Holly

An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a holly tree or grove.

In the 1881 census there were 750 people recorded with the Holly surname, ranking it #4,909 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 617, ranked #8,523, down from #4,909 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Bristol and Wellingborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holly is 804 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.7%.

1881 census count

750

Ranked #4,909

Modern count

617

2016, ranked #8,523

Peak year

1901

804 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holly had 750 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,909 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 617 in 2016, ranked #8,523.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 804 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Holly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holly surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holly 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 522 #4,805
1861 historical 597 #4,436
1881 historical 750 #4,909
1891 historical 716 #5,503
1901 historical 804 #5,618
1911 historical 617 #6,692
1997 modern 540 #8,782
1998 modern 566 #8,726
1999 modern 572 #8,712
2000 modern 545 #9,017
2001 modern 524 #9,141
2002 modern 525 #9,322
2003 modern 531 #9,084
2004 modern 542 #8,956
2005 modern 543 #8,873
2006 modern 545 #8,875
2007 modern 553 #8,870
2008 modern 549 #8,978
2009 modern 578 #8,825
2010 modern 590 #8,902
2011 modern 577 #8,942
2012 modern 594 #8,679
2013 modern 608 #8,651
2014 modern 619 #8,588
2015 modern 612 #8,606
2016 modern 617 #8,523

Geography

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Where Hollys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington, Bedwelty and Aberystruth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Bristol, Wellingborough and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 3
3 Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington Wiltshire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Aberystruth Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 006 Blaenau Gwent
2 Blaenau Gwent 003 Blaenau Gwent
3 Bristol 003 Bristol, City of
4 Wellingborough 005 Wellingborough
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 028 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holly

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Holly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Holly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Holly 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

Holly is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holly falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Holly

The surname Holly is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a topographic name, derived from the Old English word 'holen,' meaning holly tree. This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who lived near a holly tree or in an area where holly trees grew abundantly.

The earliest known record of the name Holly can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Holei.' This indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century. It is possible that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers, who had adopted it from the existing Anglo-Saxon population.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded in various forms, such as 'Holli,' 'Holi,' and 'Holye.' These variations reflect the different ways in which the name was spelled and pronounced in different regions of England. By the 14th century, the spelling had settled into its modern form of 'Holly.'

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Holly, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Another notable individual was William Holly, a landowner in Gloucestershire, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

The Holly surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history, including:

1. Ralph Holly (c. 1600-1677), an English Puritan minister and author. 2. Levi Holly (1796-1853), an American surveyor and politician who served as the third Governor of Connecticut. 3. Charles Holly (1836-1904), an American architect known for designing several notable buildings in New Haven, Connecticut. 4. Buddy Holly (1936-1959), an American singer-songwriter and pioneer of rock and roll music. 5. Aidan Holly (born 1985), a British actor best known for his role in the television series 'The Tudors.'

While the surname Holly is predominantly found in England and the United States, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for someone living near holly trees.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holly 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. Somerset leads with 104 Hollys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.83x.

County Total Index
Somerset 104 8.83x
Middlesex 80 1.09x
Wiltshire 80 12.36x
Surrey 57 1.60x
Hampshire 52 3.47x
Monmouthshire 44 8.32x
Devon 38 2.50x
Gloucestershire 34 2.37x
Bedfordshire 24 6.34x
Yorkshire 24 0.33x
Lancashire 21 0.24x
Berkshire 19 3.46x
Kent 17 0.68x
Brecknockshire 16 10.94x
Essex 16 1.11x
Dorset 15 3.12x
Durham 15 0.69x
Glamorgan 14 1.10x
Warwickshire 13 0.70x
Lanarkshire 11 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 7 1.58x
Sussex 7 0.57x
Argyllshire 5 2.46x
Herefordshire 5 1.67x
Derbyshire 4 0.35x
Leicestershire 4 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.41x
Oxfordshire 4 0.89x
Norfolk 3 0.27x
Northumberland 3 0.28x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 1.89x
Cornwall 1 0.12x
Flintshire 1 0.51x
Hertfordshire 1 0.20x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.69x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Renfrewshire 1 0.18x
Suffolk 1 0.11x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberystruth in Monmouthshire leads with 37 Hollys recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.37x.

Place Total Index
Aberystruth 37 79.37x
Burlescombe 27 1304.35x
Wellington 27 169.07x
Bradford On Avon 19 91.74x
Calne 19 142.64x
Camberwell 15 3.21x
Kensington London 14 3.44x
Eaton Socon 13 218.49x
Llanelly 13 74.24x
Newington 13 4.81x
Bermondsey 12 5.51x
Birmingham 12 1.95x
Chippenham 11 81.06x
Linthorpe 10 23.12x
Southampton St Mary 10 10.60x
Lee 9 24.83x
Portsea 9 3.06x
Barony 8 1.34x
Kilmersdon 8 137.46x
Salisbury St Martin 8 118.87x
South Stoke 8 824.74x
Bristol St Peter 7 136.45x
Charmouth 7 445.86x
Dawdon 7 26.15x
Keynsham 7 82.74x
Roath 7 12.10x
South Petherton 7 115.13x
Thurleigh 7 463.58x
Washfield 7 707.07x
Westoe 7 5.67x
Bedminster 6 5.42x
Fugglestone St Peter 6 234.38x
Hillingdon 6 25.72x
Horsington 6 319.15x
Huntspill 6 124.48x
Lambeth 6 0.94x
Melbury Abbas 6 722.89x
Reading St Giles 6 11.14x
St Anne Soho London 6 14.36x
St George Hanover Square 6 4.65x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.57x
Bocking 5 57.60x
Bristol St James In 5 23.70x
Bristol St Paul In 5 13.08x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 3.70x
Campbeltown 5 20.35x
Easthampstead 5 170.07x
Hackney London 5 1.22x
Hammersmith London 5 2.77x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 16.22x
Nether Hallam 5 5.10x
Weston Patrick Weston 5 1190.48x
Woodgreen 5 684.93x
Barking 4 9.47x
Billesdon Rolleston 4 2352.94x
Clapham 4 4.37x
Dunstable 4 34.36x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 2.71x
Garway 4 298.51x
Hove 4 7.39x
Islington London 4 0.56x
Lamyatt 4 634.92x
Liverpool 4 0.76x
Reading St Mary 4 9.09x
Richmond 4 8.01x
St Pancras London 4 0.68x
Stockbridge 4 182.65x
Sunbury 4 45.51x
Walton On Hill 4 8.51x
West Derby 4 1.57x
Wilton 4 87.34x
Wycombe 4 12.13x
Catcott 3 217.39x
Clifton 3 4.14x
Cloford 3 600.00x
Govan 3 0.51x
Melksham 3 26.71x
Millbrook 3 7.94x
Toxteth Park 3 1.02x
Trevethin 3 6.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 54
John 35
James 28
George 24
Henry 23
Thomas 18
Charles 16
Edward 12
Alfred 10
Frederick 9
Walter 9
Albert 6
Frank 6
Joseph 6
Wm. 6
Arthur 5
Robert 4
Thos. 4
Eli 3
Fred 3
Luke 3
Samuel 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Mark 2
Maurice 2
Oliver 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Caleb 1
Courtney 1
Do.John 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Eysious 1
F.William 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jane 1
Jesse 1
Jessee 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Laben 1

FAQ

Holly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 750 people were recorded with the Holly surname. That placed it at #4,909 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 617 in 2016. That gives Holly a modern rank of #8,523.

What does the Holly surname mean?

An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a holly tree or grove.

What does the Holly map show?

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