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

Hollowell, 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 Hollowell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hollowell in America

Hollowell is the 6684th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hollowell surname appeared 5,053 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Hollowell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hollowell 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 Hollowell

The surname Hollowell is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that once existed in England. One possible explanation suggests that the name is derived from the Old English words "hol" and "well," meaning "deep well" or "sunken well."

During the Middle Ages, many people adopted surnames based on their place of origin or residence. It is likely that the earliest bearers of the Hollowell surname hailed from a location with a distinctive well or water source, which gave rise to the name. Some historical records indicate variations in spelling, such as Hollowell, Hollewell, and Hollwell, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hollowell surname appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William de Holwelle. Another early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where a Richard de Hollewelle is mentioned.

Notable individuals with the Hollowell surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Hollowell (c. 1545-1612), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.
2. John Hollowell (1644-1708), a prominent American planter and landowner in Virginia, known for his extensive landholdings and involvement in the colonial government.
3. Benjamin Hollowell (1695-1765), a British military officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.
4. Mary Hollowell (1753-1831), an American educator and advocate for women's education in the early United States, renowned for establishing one of the first schools for girls in Maryland.
5. William Hollowell (1825-1901), a British politician and industrialist who served as a Member of Parliament for the Northampton constituency and was a prominent figure in the local shoe manufacturing industry.

While the Hollowell surname is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to its English origins and the medieval period. The name's connection to a specific location or geographic feature highlights the importance of place names in the development of surnames during that era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hollowell

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

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 Hollowell 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 Hollowell 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 Hollowell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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