UK surname
A locational surname deriving from Holten, a town in the Netherlands.
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Holten surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 68, ranked #33,826, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sheviock, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holten is 134 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.4%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
68
2016, ranked #33,826
Peak year
1901
134 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Holten surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Holten 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 40 | #28,970 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 134 | #19,288 |
| 1911 | historical | 100 | #22,717 |
| 1997 | modern | 71 | #30,521 |
| 1998 | modern | 76 | #30,386 |
| 1999 | modern | 77 | #30,427 |
| 2000 | modern | 76 | #30,578 |
| 2001 | modern | 69 | #31,098 |
| 2002 | modern | 70 | #31,432 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 63 | #32,380 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 57 | #33,513 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 72 | #33,021 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 68 | #33,826 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sheviock, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Halifax, Talland (incl. Looe Island) and Plympstock. 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 | Sheviock | Cornwall |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Talland (incl. Looe Island) | Cornwall |
| 5 | Plympstock | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Holten 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 Holten, 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 Holten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Holten 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, Holten 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 Holten is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Holten, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Holten is of German origin, derived from the Old German words "holtan" meaning "to hold" or "to keep" and "holt" meaning "wood" or "forest". It is believed to have originated in the 12th century in the region of Lower Saxony, particularly around the town of Holten, which was named after the surrounding forests.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Holten can be found in the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a collection of medieval charters and records from the region of Westphalia, dated around 1200. The name appears in reference to a landowner named Hermannus de Holten.
In the 14th century, a prominent figure with the surname Holten was Johann von Holten, a knight and member of the Teutonic Order, who participated in the Prussian Crusades against the pagan Baltic tribes. He was born around 1320 and died in battle in 1379.
During the 16th century, the Holten family gained prominence in the city of Bremen. Notable members included Gerhard Holten (1505-1573), a successful merchant and city councilor, and his son, Bernhard Holten (1543-1618), a respected jurist and diplomat who served as the city's syndic (legal advisor).
In the 17th century, a branch of the Holten family migrated to the Netherlands, where they became influential in the Dutch East India Company. One of the most notable figures was Johannes Holten (1625-1688), who served as the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1680 to 1683.
Another notable Holten was Carl Gustav von Holten (1709-1787), a Swedish-born Prussian military officer and engineer who played a significant role in the development of the Prussian army under King Frederick the Great. He was born in Stockholm and served as a lieutenant general in the Prussian army.
Over the centuries, variations of the spelling emerged, such as Holden, Holdten, and Holtmann, but the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the German language and the region of Lower Saxony.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holten 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. Devon leads with 35 Holtens recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.15x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 35 | 19.15x |
| Cornwall | 28 | 28.17x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.64x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.48x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 2.32x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.46x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.90x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Fife | 1 | 1.92x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.33x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.35x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.21x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymstock in Devon leads with 25 Holtens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2604.17x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Plymstock | 25 | 2604.17x |
| Lansallos | 10 | 4545.45x |
| Talland | 9 | 3913.04x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 7 | 86.96x |
| Bradford | 4 | 18.99x |
| Bristol St Michael | 4 | 270.27x |
| East Looe | 4 | 1000.00x |
| Little Bolton | 4 | 29.87x |
| Newington | 4 | 12.33x |
| Falmouth | 3 | 85.23x |
| Croydon | 2 | 8.42x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 2 | 47.73x |
| Stratford On Avon | 2 | 162.60x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.39x |
| Brackley St Peter | 1 | 175.44x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 19.42x |
| Forgan | 1 | 100.00x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.31x |
| Newlyn | 1 | 238.10x |
| St Blazey | 1 | 114.94x |
| Stonehouse East | 1 | 107.53x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 9.26x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Holten 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 Holten surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Holten surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 68 in 2016. That gives Holten a modern rank of #33,826.
A locational surname deriving from Holten, a town in the Netherlands.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Holten 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.