Find out how popular the last name Hollis is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Hollis.

Hollis, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Hollis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hollis in America

Hollis is the 1233rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hollis surname appeared 28,617 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 10 people would have the surname Hollis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hollis to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Hollis

The surname HOLLIS is of English origin, with roots traceable back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'hol' meaning 'hollow' and 'hyrst' meaning 'wooded hill'. The combination of these words suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a hollowed-out or sunken area in a forested region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Holis" and "Holis de la Hulle". This ancient record indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.

The HOLLIS surname is often associated with various place names in England, such as Hollis Hill in Devon and Hollish in Dorset. The spellings of these place names have evolved over time, reflecting the fluidity of language and the influence of local dialects.

In the 13th century, a notable individual named Walter de Hollis was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire. This record provides an early glimpse into the historical presence of the HOLLIS name in English society.

During the 16th century, a prominent figure named John Hollis (1564-1637) served as the Lord Mayor of London. His tenure as the city's chief magistrate from 1611 to 1612 further solidified the HOLLIS name's significance in England's history.

Another notable bearer of the HOLLIS surname was Denzil Hollis (1598-1680), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament. He played an influential role during the turbulent period of the English Civil War, aligning himself with the Parliamentarian cause against the monarchy.

In the realm of literature, the English poet Thomas Hollis (1720-1774) gained recognition for his advocacy of liberty and his translations of ancient Greek and Latin works. His literary contributions left a lasting impact on the intellectual landscape of the 18th century.

The HOLLIS name has also been associated with various military figures, such as Sir Roger Hollis (1905-1973), a British intelligence officer who served as the Director-General of MI5, the United Kingdom's domestic security service, from 1956 to 1965.

Throughout its history, the HOLLIS surname has maintained a strong presence across England, with various branches and families contributing to the rich tapestry of the nation's heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hollis

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Hollis.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hollis was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hollis has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Hollis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hollis, please contact us.

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