UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "the hollow or sunken meadow".
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Holmer surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holmer is 829 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 45.3%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1861
829 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Holmer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Holmer 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 | 239 | #9,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 829 | #3,326 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 666 | #5,844 |
| 1901 | historical | 81 | #25,130 |
| 1911 | historical | 285 | #11,837 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 33 | #34,532 |
| 1999 | modern | 25 | #35,413 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 23 | #35,451 |
| 2002 | modern | 23 | #35,606 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Pancras and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Holmer 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 Holmer, 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 Holmer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Holmer 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, Holmer 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 Holmer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Holmer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Holmer is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be traced back to the medieval period in England. It is derived from the Old English words "hol" meaning hollow or hole and "mere" meaning lake or pool. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a natural hollow or lake.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Holmer can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Holmere" in this historical record.
In the 13th century, the name was also recorded in various forms such as "Holmere," "Holmere," and "Holmere" in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire. These rolls were administrative records that listed the names of landowners and tenants.
During the 14th century, the name was documented in the form "Holmer" in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire. This suggests that the surname was well-established in different regions of England by this time.
One notable bearer of the Holmer surname was John Holmer, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London in the late 15th century. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1487 and was involved in various charitable endeavors.
Another prominent figure with this surname was Sir George Holmer (1568-1632), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Appleby in the early 17th century. He was also a successful lawyer and held the position of Attorney-General for the County Palatine of Durham.
In the 18th century, the Reverend Samuel Holmer (1716-1791) was a notable clergyman in the Church of England. He served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Haddington, Lincolnshire, and was known for his scholarly works on theological subjects.
During the 19th century, Sir William Holmer (1810-1887) was a distinguished British naval officer who served in various capacities, including as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Station. He was knighted in recognition of his military service and contributions to the Royal Navy.
Another bearer of the Holmer surname was Elizabeth Holmer (1832-1904), a prominent figure in the early women's suffrage movement in England. She was a dedicated activist and campaigned tirelessly for women's right to vote and equal rights.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holmer 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. Durham leads with 8 Holmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.41x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 8 | 5.41x |
| Sussex | 5 | 5.96x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 3.99x |
| Essex | 4 | 4.08x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 2.94x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.51x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.79x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.61x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.82x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 9.81x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.40x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 2.62x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.28x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 10.13x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.59x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.62x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.26x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.25x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.65x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.41x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Framwellgate in Durham leads with 7 Holmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 795.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Framwellgate | 7 | 795.45x |
| Birmingham | 5 | 11.96x |
| Walthamstow | 4 | 113.31x |
| Brighton | 3 | 17.74x |
| Harborne | 3 | 55.76x |
| Frant | 2 | 338.98x |
| Great Yarmouth | 2 | 31.60x |
| Hereford All Sts | 2 | 215.05x |
| Southampton St Mary | 2 | 31.20x |
| Aston Cum Aughton | 1 | 250.00x |
| Bury St Edmunds St Mary | 1 | 87.72x |
| Dukinfield | 1 | 19.72x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 9.98x |
| Godmanchester | 1 | 270.27x |
| Gorbals | 1 | 105.26x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 12.63x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 8.16x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 15.60x |
| Holy Trinity St Mary | 1 | 133.33x |
| Portsea | 1 | 5.01x |
| Rotherhithe | 1 | 16.29x |
| Salford | 1 | 5.76x |
| St Swithin Lincoln | 1 | 80.00x |
| Sutton In Macclesfield | 1 | 87.72x |
| Tapton | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Teddington London | 1 | 88.50x |
| Wardleworth | 1 | 29.67x |
| Wellington | 1 | 91.74x |
| Worcester St Martin | 1 | 113.64x |
| Worsley | 1 | 27.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Holmer 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 Holmer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Holmer surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Holmer a modern rank of #36,059.
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "the hollow or sunken meadow".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Holmer 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.