UK surname
A surname indicating one who lived by or near a small hill or hollow.
In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Hould surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #30,077 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Stoke St Gregory and Buriton (incl. Nursted and Weston). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hould is 123 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.0%.
1881 census count
25
Ranked #30,077
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1861
123 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hould surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hould surname density by area, 1861 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 123 | #17,914 |
| 1881 | historical | 25 | #30,077 |
| 1891 | historical | 39 | #31,257 |
| 1901 | historical | 23 | #31,466 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Stoke St Gregory, Buriton (incl. Nursted and Weston), Cogan and Clee. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Stoke St Gregory | Somerset |
| 3 | Buriton (incl. Nursted and Weston) | Hampshire |
| 4 | Cogan | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Clee | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hould 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 Hould, 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 Hould surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hould 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, Hould 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 Hould is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hould, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HOULD is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be a variation of the Old English word "hol," which means "hollow" or "hole," potentially referring to a person who lived near a hollow or depression in the landscape.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the HOULD name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which list a Robert de Holde as a landowner. This indicates that the name was already established in the region by the 12th century.
In the 13th century, the HOULD name appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented a Robert de Holde in Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of England by this time.
The HOULD surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This record includes entries for individuals with similar spellings, such as "Holde" and "Houlde."
One notable individual with the HOULD surname was Sir William Hould, a prominent English landowner who lived in the 14th century. He was born around 1320 and was known for his extensive land holdings in Gloucestershire and Somerset.
Another historical figure bearing the HOULD name was John Hould, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century. He was born in 1525 and played an influential role in the city's trade and governance.
In the 17th century, the HOULD surname was associated with several notable clergy members, including Reverend Thomas Hould, who was born in 1632 and served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire.
The HOULD name can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Houlden in Yorkshire, which was formerly known as "Holden" or "Holden Bank." This suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.
As the centuries passed, the HOULD surname spread across England and beyond, with variations in spelling emerging, such as Hould, Houlde, and Holde. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the Old English word "hol," reflecting its connection to geographic features and settlements.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hould 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. Lancashire leads with 6 Houlds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.08x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 6 | 2.08x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 14.50x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.64x |
| Surrey | 3 | 2.53x |
| Angus | 2 | 8.86x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 11.36x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.83x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.38x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 2.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over Darwen in Lancashire leads with 6 Houlds recorded in 1881 and an index of 259.74x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Over Darwen | 6 | 259.74x |
| Wendron | 4 | 1052.63x |
| Newington | 3 | 33.33x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 33.48x |
| Alverthorpe Cum Thornes | 2 | 227.27x |
| Dundee | 2 | 23.72x |
| Newport | 2 | 238.10x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 27.10x |
| Gainford | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 9.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hould surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Hould surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Hould a modern rank of #36,533.
A surname indicating one who lived by or near a small hill or hollow.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hould 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.