UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word "halig," meaning a person of spiritual virtue or holiness.
In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Holy surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 46, ranked #35,126, down from #28,837 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holy is 128 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.3%.
1881 census count
34
Ranked #28,837
Modern count
46
2016, ranked #35,126
Peak year
1891
128 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Holy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Holy surname density by area, 1891 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 101 | #20,955 |
| 1881 | historical | 34 | #28,837 |
| 1891 | historical | 128 | #20,393 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 33 | #35,671 |
| 2010 | modern | 40 | #35,403 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 43 | #35,293 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 46 | #35,126 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Monkwearmouth, Toxteth Park and West Derby. 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 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Monkwearmouth | Durham |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Holy 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 Holy, 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 Holy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Holy 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, Holy 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 Holy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Holy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Holy is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'halig', meaning sacred or holy. The name was likely originally given as a nickname to someone who was particularly pious or religious.
One of the earliest known references to the surname Holy can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1198, where a person named Alured Holy is mentioned. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a Matilda Holy is recorded.
In the 14th century, the surname Holy was found in various parts of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327 list a John Holy, while the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1332 mention a William Holy.
The surname Holy is also associated with several place names in England, such as Holy Island off the coast of Northumberland and Holy Cross in Worcestershire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
One notable figure in history with the surname Holy was John Holy (c. 1500-1554), an English Benedictine monk and martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Mary I for refusing to accept the Act of Supremacy. Another person of note was Sir John Holy (1616-1692), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Guildford in the late 17th century.
Other individuals throughout history who bore the surname Holy include Richard Holy (c. 1450-1518), an English composer and music theorist; Thomas Holy (c. 1570-1624), an English Puritan clergyman and author; and William Holy (c. 1600-1677), an English clergyman and author who wrote works on theology and philosophy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holy 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. Yorkshire leads with 11 Holys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 11 | 3.35x |
| Cornwall | 5 | 13.32x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 7.36x |
| Ayrshire | 4 | 16.12x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.90x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.37x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.53x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.54x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.62x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bowling in Yorkshire leads with 7 Holys recorded in 1881 and an index of 215.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling | 7 | 215.38x |
| Falmouth | 5 | 375.94x |
| Southampton St Mary | 5 | 117.10x |
| Dalry | 4 | 341.88x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 2 | 29.94x |
| Barnsley | 1 | 29.50x |
| Bow London | 1 | 23.70x |
| Clifton | 1 | 30.40x |
| Gate Fulford | 1 | 129.87x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 19.38x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 3.46x |
| Lillington | 1 | 909.09x |
| Poulton Cum Seacombe | 1 | 119.05x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.75x |
| West Ham | 1 | 6.92x |
| Yoxall | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Holy 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 Holy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Holy surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 46 in 2016. That gives Holy a modern rank of #35,126.
An English surname derived from the Old English word "halig," meaning a person of spiritual virtue or holiness.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Holy 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.