NameCensus.

UK surname

Holme

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small island.

In the 1881 census there were 1,397 people recorded with the Holme surname, ranking it #2,964 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,247, ranked #4,787, down from #2,964 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Craven and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holme is 1,932 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.7%.

1881 census count

1,397

Ranked #2,964

Modern count

1,247

2016, ranked #4,787

Peak year

1891

1,932 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holme had 1,397 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,964 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,247 in 2016, ranked #4,787.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,932 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holme surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holme surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holme 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 1,577 #1,827
1861 historical 1,931 #1,508
1881 historical 1,397 #2,964
1891 historical 1,932 #2,387
1901 historical 1,554 #3,313
1911 historical 1,824 #2,701
1997 modern 1,277 #4,462
1998 modern 1,324 #4,481
1999 modern 1,328 #4,507
2000 modern 1,311 #4,540
2001 modern 1,251 #4,643
2002 modern 1,273 #4,663
2003 modern 1,252 #4,638
2004 modern 1,236 #4,683
2005 modern 1,235 #4,647
2006 modern 1,242 #4,637
2007 modern 1,238 #4,700
2008 modern 1,248 #4,687
2009 modern 1,300 #4,609
2010 modern 1,328 #4,608
2011 modern 1,303 #4,632
2012 modern 1,256 #4,716
2013 modern 1,305 #4,641
2014 modern 1,305 #4,663
2015 modern 1,269 #4,738
2016 modern 1,247 #4,787

Geography

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Where Holmes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Manchester, Liverpool, West Derby and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Craven, South Lakeland and Wigan. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 015 Sevenoaks
2 Craven 004 Craven
3 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland
4 South Lakeland 004 South Lakeland
5 Wigan 026 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holme

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holme

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Holme is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holme 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

Holme falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Holme

The surname HOLME is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'holmr' meaning a small island or a piece of flat, low-lying ground surrounded by streams or marshes. The name first appeared in Yorkshire and other northern counties of England during the medieval period.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records individuals bearing variations of the name such as Holm and Holme in various parts of Yorkshire. These early spellings reflect the locational nature of the surname, indicating that the bearers hailed from a specific place or settlement called Holme.

In the 13th century, records show a John del Holme in Yorkshire, suggesting the name's continued association with the northern region. By the 14th century, the surname had spread to other parts of England, with references to individuals like William atte Holme in Suffolk and Robert de la Holme in Staffordshire.

Notable bearers of the HOLME surname throughout history include Sir Robert Holme (1576-1635), an English genealogist and officer of arms who authored the influential work "The Academy of Armory." Another notable figure was Thomas Holme (1624-1695), a surveyor and cartographer who served as the Surveyor General of Pennsylvania and created the first detailed map of the province.

In the literary realm, Constance Holme (1880-1955) was a prominent English novelist and playwright, known for works such as "The Splendid Fairing" and "The Lonely Plough." Additionally, Randle Holme (1627-1699) was an English heraldic writer and genealogist who authored the extensive "The Academy of Armory" and other works on heraldry.

The surname HOLME has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Holme-on-Spalding Moor in Yorkshire, Holme Abbey in Cumbria, and Holme Pierrepont in Nottinghamshire, among others. These place names likely contributed to the spread and variations of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holme families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holme 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 772 Holmes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.81x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 772 4.81x
Westmorland 91 30.58x
Yorkshire 85 0.63x
Derbyshire 64 3.02x
Cheshire 59 1.97x
Middlesex 52 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 28 1.53x
Staffordshire 28 0.61x
Cumberland 24 2.06x
Kent 24 0.52x
Lincolnshire 24 1.11x
Surrey 19 0.29x
Durham 14 0.35x
Leicestershire 11 0.73x
Hampshire 9 0.32x
Gloucestershire 8 0.30x
Worcestershire 8 0.45x
Bedfordshire 7 1.00x
Norfolk 6 0.29x
Northumberland 6 0.30x
Suffolk 6 0.36x
Dumfriesshire 5 1.67x
Northamptonshire 5 0.39x
Ross-shire 5 1.34x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.49x
Flintshire 4 1.10x
Warwickshire 3 0.09x
Berkshire 2 0.20x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.35x
Fife 2 0.25x
Lanarkshire 2 0.05x
Somerset 2 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Nairnshire 1 2.42x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Renfrewshire 1 0.10x
Shropshire 1 0.09x
Sussex 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. Litherland in Lancashire leads with 51 Holmes recorded in 1881 and an index of 151.83x.

Place Total Index
Litherland 51 151.83x
Everton 44 8.59x
Hindley 38 55.47x
West Derby 34 7.23x
Eccleston In Prescot 30 37.19x
Dalton In Furness 22 35.47x
Blackburn 21 4.91x
Preston 21 4.89x
Great Bolton 19 8.93x
Liverpool 19 1.95x
Claughton With Grange 18 132.26x
Stretford 18 20.36x
Wigan 18 8.02x
Garsdale 17 609.32x
Lewisham 16 6.50x
Aspull 15 39.69x
Buxton 15 83.61x
Kirkdale 15 5.55x
Toxteth Park 15 2.76x
Barton Upon Irwell 14 11.58x
Chorley 14 15.53x
Mansriggs 14 4666.67x
Moss Side 14 16.56x
Oldham 14 2.70x
Salford 12 2.54x
Stockport 12 7.80x
Downholland 11 495.50x
Nottingham St Mary 11 2.33x
Hulme 10 2.98x
Islington London 10 0.76x
Knowsley 10 172.41x
Litchurch 10 11.72x
Selston 10 49.07x
Ambleside 9 97.61x
Barrow In Furness 9 4.12x
Butterworth 9 22.99x
Farleton 9 2500.00x
Tanfield 9 18.79x
Wavertree 9 17.50x
Accrington 8 5.48x
Clee With Weelsby 8 16.88x
Fairfield 8 56.42x
Stanwix 8 84.75x
Bredbury 7 40.46x
Burton 7 223.64x
Catthorpe 7 1093.75x
Holme 7 193.91x
Hope 7 454.55x
Kearsley 7 20.70x
Maghull 7 105.11x
Norton Canes 7 42.02x
Pemberton 7 10.93x
Pennington In Leigh 7 22.71x
St George Hanover Square 7 2.93x
St Marylebone London 7 0.97x
Sykehouse 7 370.37x
Worsley 7 7.07x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 1.71x
Aughton 6 37.71x
Bury 6 3.27x
Clayton 6 18.27x
Crosthwaite Lyth 6 167.60x
Darcy Lever 6 64.86x
Frodingham 6 77.82x
Garston 6 12.65x
Heaton Norris 6 6.56x
Huyton With Roby 6 31.86x
Ince In Makerfield 6 8.03x
Kirkland 6 94.64x
Leigh 6 27.96x
Lowton 6 54.89x
Luton 6 4.94x
Newington 6 1.20x
Oswaldtwistle 6 10.57x
Prescot 6 20.65x
Upper Holker 6 158.31x
Walton On Hill 6 6.89x
Westhoughton 6 13.99x
Castle Church 5 18.20x
Kirkby Lonsdale 5 62.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 99
Elizabeth 60
Jane 45
Sarah 45
Ellen 36
Margaret 32
Ann 29
Alice 25
Agnes 24
Eliza 19
Annie 16
Hannah 14
Catherine 13
Edith 11
Emily 10
Isabella 10
Martha 10
Eleanor 8
Emma 7
Anne 5
Beatrice 5
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Frances 5
Amy 4
Anna 4
Charlotte 4
Harriet 4
Jessie 4
Margt. 4
Maria 4
Rachel 4
Ada 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Helen 3
Henrietta 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Rebecca 3
Betsey 2
Betty 2
Catharine 2
James 2
Julia 2
Lillie 2
Lizzie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 97
William 70
Thomas 57
George 41
James 37
Robert 35
Richard 26
Henry 24
Joseph 24
Alfred 19
Edward 17
Arthur 11
Harry 9
Charles 8
Francis 8
Frederick 8
Isaac 7
Samuel 7
Frank 6
Hugh 6
Walter 6
Herbert 5
Daniel 4
Jno. 4
Ralph 4
Albert 3
Anthony 3
Christopher 3
Edwin 3
Jeremiah 3
Nicholas 3
Peter 3
Alexander 2
Archer 2
Bryan 2
David 2
Edwd. 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Jas.E. 2
Paul 2
Rodger 2
Roger 2
Rowland 2
Thos. 2
Benjamin 1
Elizabeth 1
Emanuel 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1

FAQ

Holme surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holme surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,397 people were recorded with the Holme surname. That placed it at #2,964 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holme surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,247 in 2016. That gives Holme a modern rank of #4,787.

What does the Holme surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small island.

What does the Holme map show?

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