NameCensus.

UK surname

Holwill

In the 1881 census there were 147 people recorded with the Holwill surname, ranking it #15,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 187, ranked #20,488, down from #15,674 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Morthoe, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, Forest Heath and Uphall, Dechmont and Ecclesmachan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holwill is 280 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.2%.

1881 census count

147

Ranked #15,674

Modern count

187

2016, ranked #20,488

Peak year

1911

280 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holwill had 147 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,674 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016, ranked #20,488.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Holwill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holwill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holwill 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 147 #15,674
1891 historical 230 #13,494
1901 historical 226 #14,006
1911 historical 280 #11,982
1997 modern 198 #17,729
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 205 #17,960
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 197 #18,108
2002 modern 199 #18,350
2003 modern 196 #18,358
2004 modern 193 #18,622
2005 modern 181 #19,334
2006 modern 194 #18,627
2007 modern 202 #18,359
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 196 #19,698
2011 modern 195 #19,610
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 188 #20,352
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 187 #20,488

Geography

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Where Holwills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Morthoe, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, Forest Heath, Uphall, Dechmont and Ecclesmachan, Guildford and Worthing. 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 Morthoe Devon
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster Devon
5 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 001 West Devon
2 Forest Heath 008 Forest Heath
3 Uphall, Dechmont and Ecclesmachan West Lothian
4 Guildford 015 Guildford
5 Worthing 010 Worthing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holwill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holwill

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Holwill is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holwill is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holwill falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Holwill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Holwill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Holwill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holwill 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. Devon leads with 99 Holwills recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.39x.

County Total Index
Devon 99 33.39x
Glamorgan 22 8.87x
Somerset 10 4.36x
Nottinghamshire 8 4.17x
Surrey 3 0.43x
Hampshire 2 0.69x
Middlesex 2 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Littleham in Devon leads with 11 Holwills recorded in 1881 and an index of 506.91x.

Place Total Index
Littleham 11 506.91x
Yeovil 10 214.59x
Newton Abbot St Mary 9 361.45x
Chudleigh 8 851.06x
Hucknall Torkard 8 164.27x
Bishopsteignton 7 1250.00x
East Stonehouse 7 119.86x
Pilton 7 714.29x
Swansea Town 7 34.43x
Barnstaple 6 129.03x
Neath 6 118.81x
Rhyndwyclydach 6 348.84x
Little Torrington 5 1923.08x
Revelstoke 5 1851.85x
Bovey Tracey 4 384.62x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 17.51x
Clist St George 3 2307.69x
Sidmouth 3 176.47x
Southwark St Saviour 3 40.98x
Topsham 3 214.29x
Whitchurch 3 576.92x
Bideford 2 62.89x
North Stoneham 2 303.03x
Stoke Rivers 2 2000.00x
Swansea Higher 2 77.52x
Tavistock 2 59.17x
Westminster St Margaret 2 29.11x
Withycombe Rawleigh 2 129.87x
Combmartin 1 156.25x
Feniton 1 588.24x
Great Torrington 1 59.52x
Huntshaw 1 1111.11x
Ilfracombe 1 32.79x
Tormoham 1 7.97x
Ystradyfodwg 1 4.60x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 14
James 7
Henry 5
Joseph 5
George 4
Richard 3
Charles 2
Geo.E. 2
Herbert 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Jas. 1
Fredrick 1
Louis 1
Nathl. 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Simon 1
Wm.H 1
Wm.Robert 1

FAQ

Holwill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holwill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 147 people were recorded with the Holwill surname. That placed it at #15,674 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holwill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016. That gives Holwill a modern rank of #20,488.

What does the Holwill map show?

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