NameCensus.

UK surname

Holmwood

A locational surname deriving from a place called Holmwood in England.

In the 1881 census there were 330 people recorded with the Holmwood surname, ranking it #9,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, down from #9,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Buxted, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Chelmsford and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holmwood is 486 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.5%.

1881 census count

330

Ranked #9,088

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

1911

486 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holmwood had 330 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 486 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holmwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holmwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holmwood 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 194 #10,662
1861 historical 194 #12,310
1881 historical 330 #9,088
1891 historical 449 #8,085
1901 historical 459 #8,577
1911 historical 486 #8,008
1997 modern 339 #12,464
1998 modern 342 #12,739
1999 modern 350 #12,609
2000 modern 343 #12,746
2001 modern 335 #12,759
2002 modern 352 #12,557
2003 modern 331 #12,944
2004 modern 317 #13,400
2005 modern 305 #13,689
2006 modern 311 #13,577
2007 modern 302 #13,997
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 302 #14,353
2010 modern 312 #14,314
2011 modern 309 #14,322
2012 modern 288 #14,934
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 283 #15,495
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Holmwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Buxted, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Rotherfield and Horley, Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, Chelmsford, Wealden, Southwark and Tunbridge Wells. 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 Buxted Sussex
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Rotherfield Sussex
5 Horley, Leigh Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 004 Gateshead
2 Chelmsford 018 Chelmsford
3 Wealden 002 Wealden
4 Southwark 018 Southwark
5 Tunbridge Wells 005 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holmwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holmwood

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

Holmwood is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holmwood 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 Holmwood 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 Holmwood, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Holmwood

The surname Holmwood has its roots in England, originating in the late medieval period. It derives from the Old English words "holm" meaning a small island or river meadow, and "wudu" meaning a wood or forest. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a wooded area on a river meadow or small island.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1204, where it appeared as Holmwud. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, it was spelled as Holmewode. These early variations in spelling were common before English language conventions were standardized.

Holmwood does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting the name may have emerged later in the 12th or 13th centuries. However, the name is associated with several notable historical figures and places.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Roger Holmwood, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century. Another notable figure was John Holmwood, born in 1495, who was a successful merchant and alderman in the City of London.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with a place called Holmwood in Surrey, England. This may have been a reference to the origin of the name or a location where some bearers of the name resided.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Holmwood (1620-1670), who served as a Member of Parliament and was a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

Another historical figure with the surname was Sir Charles Holmwood (1667-1722), a British naval officer who distinguished himself in battles against the French during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In the 19th century, the name gained literary significance with the character of Lord Holmwood in Bram Stoker's famous novel "Dracula," published in 1897. This fictional character was likely named in reference to the historical origins of the surname.

Throughout its history, the surname Holmwood has maintained a connection to its Old English roots, reflecting the geographical features of a wooded area near a river or island.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Holmwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holmwood 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. Sussex leads with 129 Holmwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.77x.

County Total Index
Sussex 129 23.77x
Kent 84 7.65x
Surrey 56 3.57x
Middlesex 34 1.06x
Hampshire 9 1.36x
Ayrshire 5 2.08x
Dorset 5 2.37x
Bedfordshire 2 1.20x
Cheshire 2 0.28x
Somerset 2 0.39x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherfield in Sussex leads with 39 Holmwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 815.90x.

Place Total Index
Rotherfield 39 815.90x
Speldhurst 25 447.23x
Tonbridge 16 40.39x
Reigate Foreign 15 88.34x
Brighton 13 11.87x
Charlwood 12 800.00x
Twickenham 12 86.96x
Buxted 11 518.87x
Leigh 10 1724.14x
Doddington 9 1406.25x
Uckfield 9 379.75x
Lewisham 8 13.66x
Hampton Wick London 7 296.61x
Alverstoke 6 25.13x
Etchingham 6 600.00x
Hartfield 6 348.84x
Lewes St John Southover 6 164.38x
St George Martyr London 6 92.02x
Waldron 6 405.41x
Cliffe 5 273.22x
Dartford 5 44.52x
Lambeth 5 1.78x
Riccarton Hurlford 5 118.20x
Twineham 5 1562.50x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.86x
Croydon 4 4.59x
Hastings All Sts 4 78.28x
Maidstone 4 12.22x
Pett 4 1290.32x
Bridport 3 68.97x
Eastbourne 3 12.01x
Lee 3 18.81x
Ulcombe 3 416.67x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.36x
Goudhurst 2 65.79x
Horley 2 76.05x
Horne 2 259.74x
Hove 2 8.40x
Melcombe Regis 2 22.83x
Monckton Combe 2 120.48x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 28.53x
Paddington London 2 1.69x
Ramsgate 2 11.15x
Sandy 2 68.03x
Southampton St Mary 2 4.82x
St Bartholomew Less 2 120.48x
Streatham 2 8.38x
Westbourne 2 74.07x
Worth 2 50.76x
Bredgar 1 147.06x
Caterham 1 14.43x
Chatham 1 3.31x
Chelsfield 1 95.24x
East Chiltington 1 217.39x
East Grinstead 1 13.02x
Friern Barnet 1 14.10x
Gate Fulford 1 13.42x
Horsted Keynes 1 79.37x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.65x
Kirkdale 1 1.56x
Lewes St Ann 1 54.05x
Millbrook 1 6.02x
Northfleet 1 10.33x
Nutfield 1 84.03x
Preston 1 10.55x
Walton On Thames 1 13.89x
Willesborough 1 33.90x
Withyam 1 43.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 13
Alice 9
Annie 8
Eliza 7
Jane 7
Sarah 7
Emily 6
Hannah 5
Harriett 5
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Edith 3
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Flora 2
Frances 2
Freda 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Rhoda 2
Ruth 2
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anny 1
Charlotte 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Faimy 1
Harriette 1
Hazmer 1
Jamie 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lizze 1
Lois 1
Lottie 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
George 16
Henry 11
John 11
Charles 8
Arthur 7
James 7
Thomas 6
Stephen 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Ambrose 2
Amos 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Jesse 2
Joseph 2
Moses 2
Spencer 2
A.James 1
Arther 1
Bart 1
Benjamin 1
Clifford 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dick 1
Edmund 1
Fredk.Geo. 1
Horace 1
Kenneth 1
Leonard 1
Luther 1
Noah 1
Phillip 1
Rich. 1
Richard 1
Septimus 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Wilbraham 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Holmwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holmwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 330 people were recorded with the Holmwood surname. That placed it at #9,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holmwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Holmwood a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Holmwood surname mean?

A locational surname deriving from a place called Holmwood in England.

What does the Holmwood map show?

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