UK surname
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Holywell surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Duns and Arlecdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holywell is 119 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.9%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1861
119 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Holywell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Holywell surname density by area, 1901 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 | 84 | #19,067 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 117 | #21,658 |
| 1901 | historical | 117 | #20,830 |
| 1911 | historical | 83 | #24,531 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 73 | #30,681 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 78 | #30,168 |
| 2002 | modern | 80 | #30,387 |
| 2003 | modern | 73 | #31,186 |
| 2004 | modern | 76 | #31,125 |
| 2005 | modern | 81 | #30,740 |
| 2006 | modern | 90 | #29,893 |
| 2007 | modern | 84 | #31,067 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 81 | #32,172 |
| 2010 | modern | 85 | #32,185 |
| 2011 | modern | 83 | #32,336 |
| 2012 | modern | 83 | #32,611 |
| 2013 | modern | 84 | #32,745 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Duns, Arlecdon, Millom, Muncaster and Wrexham. 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 | Carlisle St Cuthbert | Cumberland |
| 2 | Duns | Berwick |
| 3 | Arlecdon | Cumberland |
| 4 | Millom, Muncaster | Cumberland |
| 5 | Wrexham | Denbighshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Holywell 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 Holywell, 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 Holywell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Holywell 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, Holywell 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 Holywell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Holywell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holywell 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. Midlothian leads with 17 Holywells recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian | 17 | 18.33x |
| Berwickshire | 13 | 155.13x |
| Cumberland | 10 | 16.78x |
| Denbighshire | 7 | 26.77x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.78x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.61x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 4.29x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 10.75x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.29x |
| Anglesey | 1 | 8.15x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.42x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.30x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.90x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 7.97x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 16 Holywells recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.87x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 16 | 42.87x |
| Dunse | 13 | 1625.00x |
| Brymbo | 7 | 769.23x |
| Rickergate | 6 | 476.19x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 4 | 16.57x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 3 | 21.54x |
| Sutton | 3 | 122.95x |
| Holme St Cuthbert | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Hope | 2 | 215.05x |
| Hornsey | 2 | 22.83x |
| Kirkdale | 2 | 14.47x |
| St Cuthbert Within | 2 | 289.86x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 15.34x |
| Corringham | 1 | 555.56x |
| Eccleston In Prescot | 1 | 24.27x |
| Everton | 1 | 3.82x |
| Hawick | 1 | 35.59x |
| Holyhead | 1 | 43.67x |
| Lee | 1 | 29.15x |
| Quorndon | 1 | 232.56x |
| South Leith | 1 | 9.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Holywell 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 Holywell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Holywell surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Holywell a modern rank of #32,815.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Holywell 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.