NameCensus.

UK surname

Holyer

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Holyer surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Rolvenden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Harrogate and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holyer is 137 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.4%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2005

137 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holyer had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 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 113 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Holyer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holyer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Holyer 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 35 #27,037
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 113 #22,162
1901 historical 113 #21,296
1911 historical 103 #22,328
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 119 #24,918
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 125 #24,443
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 132 #24,929
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

Back to top

Where Holyers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Rolvenden, Margate and Romney, Old. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Harrogate, Wakefield, Hastings and Dover. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Rolvenden Kent
4 Margate Kent
5 Romney, Old Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
2 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
3 Wakefield 022 Wakefield
4 Hastings 006 Hastings
5 Dover 005 Dover

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Holyer

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Holyer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Holyer, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Holyer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Holyer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Holyer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holyer is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holyer falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Holyer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Holyer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holyer 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. Kent leads with 62 Holyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.52x.

County Total Index
Kent 62 25.52x
Surrey 6 1.73x
Sussex 4 3.33x
Middlesex 1 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. Woodchurch in Kent leads with 12 Holyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.

Place Total Index
Woodchurch 12 4000.00x
Ramsgate 9 227.27x
Rolvenden 9 2903.23x
Speldhurst 9 725.81x
Bilsington 6 6666.67x
Lambeth 5 8.05x
Tenterden 5 581.40x
Frant 4 470.59x
Old Romney 3 7500.00x
Appledore 2 1250.00x
Ashford 1 42.19x
Bethersden 1 400.00x
Camberwell 1 2.20x
Greenwich 1 8.83x
Kenardington 1 2000.00x
Maidstone 1 13.81x
St Marylebone London 1 2.63x
Tonbridge 1 11.42x
Westwell 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 4
William 4
Walter 3
Charles 2
Henry 2
Mathew 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
A.C. 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Maurice 1
Moses 1
Nicholas 1
Richd. 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Holyer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holyer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Holyer surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holyer surname today?

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

What does the Holyer map show?

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