NameCensus.

UK surname

Holyman

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Holyman surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 107, ranked #29,762, down from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Beddington and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holyman is 141 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.6%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

107

2016, ranked #29,762

Peak year

1911

141 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holyman had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016, ranked #29,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 141 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Holyman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holyman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Holyman 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 57 #23,092
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 66 #28,541
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 141 #18,571
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 120 #24,615
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 108 #26,741
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 109 #28,689
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 108 #29,512
2016 modern 107 #29,762

Geography

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Where Holymans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Beddington, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Kidderminster and Ogly Hay. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall and Tendring. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Beddington Surrey
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Kidderminster Worcestershire
5 Ogly Hay Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 002 Walsall
2 Walsall 004 Walsall
3 Walsall 007 Walsall
4 Tendring 011 Tendring
5 Walsall 001 Walsall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Holyman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Holyman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Holyman 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

Holyman is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holyman falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Holyman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Holyman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holyman 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. Staffordshire leads with 31 Holymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.90x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 31 12.90x
Kent 18 7.41x
Middlesex 8 1.12x
Yorkshire 6 0.85x
Surrey 5 1.44x
Somerset 2 1.75x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.32x
Essex 1 0.71x
Sussex 1 0.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ogley Hay in Staffordshire leads with 14 Holymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2800.00x.

Place Total Index
Ogley Hay 14 2800.00x
Walsall Foreign 11 88.64x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 237.15x
Paddington London 6 22.92x
Holy Trinity 5 29.46x
Rushall 5 354.61x
Dover St Mary Virgin 4 170.21x
Croydon 3 15.58x
Bedminster 2 18.57x
Camberwell 2 4.40x
Deptford St Paul 2 10.67x
Dover St James 2 188.68x
St Lawrence 2 119.76x
Chearsley 1 1666.67x
East Ham 1 38.31x
Eltham 1 70.42x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 93.46x
Lichfield St Chad 1 185.19x
Maidstone 1 13.81x
Mile End Old Town London 1 6.60x
Newhaven 1 102.04x
St Luke London 1 8.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 6
Thomas 5
Joseph 4
William 4
Charles 3
George 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Edward 2
Jacob 2
Abinger 1
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
E.T. 1
Elijha 1
Herman 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Holyman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holyman surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Holyman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016. That gives Holyman a modern rank of #29,762.

What does the Holyman map show?

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