UK surname
An English surname originally denoting someone who lived in a wood or forest.
In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Holts surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #31,170 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Darfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holts is 114 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.9%.
1881 census count
17
Ranked #31,170
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
114 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Holts surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Holts surname density by area, 1861 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 114 | #19,011 |
| 1881 | historical | 17 | #31,170 |
| 1891 | historical | 60 | #29,204 |
| 1901 | historical | 26 | #31,152 |
| 1911 | historical | 38 | #29,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Darfield, Leigh and Luton. 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 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Darfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Leigh | Lancashire |
| 5 | Luton | Bedfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Holts 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 Holts, 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 Holts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Holts 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, Holts 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 Holts is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Holts, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Holts is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "holt," which means a wood or grove. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived in or near a wooded area or a grove.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Holts can be traced back to the 13th century in various counties across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. In some cases, the name was also spelled as "Holt" or "Holte."
One of the earliest known references to the surname Holts can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named William de Holte is mentioned in Nottinghamshire. The Hundred Rolls were a series of administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.
During the Middle Ages, the surname Holts was often associated with specific locations or place names that incorporated the word "holt." For example, there are records of individuals with the surname Holts hailing from places like Holtsfield in Lancashire and Holtspur in Buckinghamshire.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Holts. One such person was Sir John Holts (c. 1470-1545), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was Sir Edward Holts (1588-1647), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament and supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
In the literary world, Sir Thomas Holts (1618-1672) was an English translator and writer who is best known for his translation of the works of René Descartes from French into English. He played a significant role in introducing Cartesian philosophy to English readers.
William Holts (1663-1736) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and country houses in the Baroque style, including the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Taunton, Somerset.
In more recent times, Richard Holts (1886-1964) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.
While these are just a few examples, the surname Holts has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions throughout the centuries, reflecting its enduring presence and significance in English history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holts 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. Warwickshire leads with 7 Holts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 7 | 16.76x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 2.41x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 19.07x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.77x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.51x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 6.42x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 4.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beaudesert in Warwickshire leads with 5 Holts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 50000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Beaudesert | 5 | 50000.00x |
| Tottenham | 4 | 151.52x |
| Borough Green | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Heap | 1 | 96.15x |
| Ipswich St Clement | 1 | 196.08x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 59.52x |
| Moreton Morrell | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Northampton St Sepulchre | 1 | 126.58x |
| St Andrewthe Great | 1 | 714.29x |
| Warwick St Mary | 1 | 277.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Holts surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Holts surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Holts a modern rank of #37,829.
An English surname originally denoting someone who lived in a wood or forest.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Holts 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.