NameCensus.

UK surname

Holtam

A habitational surname referring to someone from a town of that name.

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Holtam surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, up from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Derby and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holtam is 128 in 2006. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 252.9%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2006

128 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holtam had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 85 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holtam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holtam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Holtam 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 52 #27,369
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 85 #26,080
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 77 #25,106
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 128 #24,267
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

Back to top

Where Holtams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Derby, Amber Valley, Cornwall and The Vale of Glamorgan. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 018 Westminster
2 Derby 010 Derby
3 Amber Valley 002 Amber Valley
4 Cornwall 037 Cornwall
5 The Vale of Glamorgan 013 Vale of Glamorgan

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Holtam

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Holtam

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Central and City

Within London, Holtam is most associated with areas classed as Central and City, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 high density central neighbourhoods are characterised by high levels of residential turnover. Few children are in evidence. Few individuals experience live with disability, with many in full-time employment or study. Levels of separation or divorce are low relative to the Supergroup average. The workforce is well-educated but not in the top flight of managerial occupations. Levels of affiliation to non-Christian religions are high.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holtam is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Holtam

The surname Holtam has its origins in England, likely emerging during the Middle Ages between the 11th and 15th centuries. It is believed to be derived from Old English words "hol" meaning "hollow" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village". This suggests the name may have originated from a place name referring to a settlement situated in or near a hollow or valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named William de Holteham is mentioned. This indicates the surname was already in use by the late 12th century and points to a potential connection with the village of Holteham, which may have been an earlier spelling of a place name that eventually evolved into Holtam.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of land ownership and taxation, there is an entry for a John de Holtham, further reinforcing the link between the surname and a place name with a similar spelling. The Holtam surname may have been associated with individuals who either lived in or originated from a location bearing a name like Holtham or Holteham.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the Holtam surname. One example is William Holtam (c. 1530-1599), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Coventry from 1588 until his death. Another is John Holtam (c. 1650-1725), a prominent English merchant and landowner from Yorkshire.

In the 17th century, the Holtam surname appeared in parish records across various counties in England, including Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire. This suggests the name had spread to different regions by this time. One individual of note from this period was Thomas Holtam (1624-1693), a wealthy landowner and benefactor from Nottinghamshire.

Moving into the 18th century, the name continued to be found in various parts of England. Notable figures include Samuel Holtam (1702-1772), a respected attorney and legal scholar from London, and Elizabeth Holtam (1730-1805), a prominent philanthropist and patron of the arts from Warwickshire.

Throughout its history, the Holtam surname has maintained a presence in England, with its origins likely tracing back to a specific place name related to a settlement in a hollow or valley. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its connection to this geographical reference remains a plausible explanation for its etymology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Holtam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holtam 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. Warwickshire leads with 11 Holtams recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.15x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 11 13.15x
Oxfordshire 8 39.06x
Gloucestershire 7 10.76x
Hampshire 4 5.89x
Lancashire 2 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 2 4.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Epwell in Oxfordshire leads with 8 Holtams recorded in 1881 and an index of 26666.67x.

Place Total Index
Epwell 8 26666.67x
Cheltenham 7 139.44x
Crondall 4 1081.08x
Brinklow 3 3333.33x
Bishops Tachbrook 2 2857.14x
Bulwell 2 206.19x
Tanworth 2 909.09x
Aston 1 4.34x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 33.78x
Birmingham 1 3.59x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 40.00x
Coventry St Michael 1 37.17x
Preston 1 9.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Mary 3
Alice 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Georgena 1
Maria 1
Marion 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 4
George 2
David 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Jonah 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
William 1

FAQ

Holtam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holtam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Holtam surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holtam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Holtam a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Holtam surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from a town of that name.

What does the Holtam map show?

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