Holly
An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a holly tree or grove.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 10,385 Americans carry the last name Holly. That puts it at #3,979 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 33,005 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Holly surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
10K
1 in 33,005
Census rank
#3,979
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
8.9K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 8,934 bearers of the surname Holly in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3979th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Holly, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.3%. The next largest groups are Black (27.7%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Holly
The surname Holly is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a topographic name, derived from the Old English word 'holen,' meaning holly tree. This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who lived near a holly tree or in an area where holly trees grew abundantly.
The earliest known record of the name Holly can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Holei.' This indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century. It is possible that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers, who had adopted it from the existing Anglo-Saxon population.
In the 13th century, the name was recorded in various forms, such as 'Holli,' 'Holi,' and 'Holye.' These variations reflect the different ways in which the name was spelled and pronounced in different regions of England. By the 14th century, the spelling had settled into its modern form of 'Holly.'
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Holly, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Another notable individual was William Holly, a landowner in Gloucestershire, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.
The Holly surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history, including:
1. Ralph Holly (c. 1600-1677), an English Puritan minister and author.
2. Levi Holly (1796-1853), an American surveyor and politician who served as the third Governor of Connecticut.
3. Charles Holly (1836-1904), an American architect known for designing several notable buildings in New Haven, Connecticut.
4. Buddy Holly (1936-1959), an American singer-songwriter and pioneer of rock and roll music.
5. Aidan Holly (born 1985), a British actor best known for his role in the television series 'The Tudors.'
While the surname Holly is predominantly found in England and the United States, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for someone living near holly trees.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Holly
Among Census respondents with the surname Holly, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.3%. The next largest groups are Black (27.7%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Holly bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Holly surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White66.3%
- Black or African American27.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Holly surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,979 | #3,979 | 0.0% |
| Count | 8,934 | 8,934 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 3.03 | 3.03 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Holly bearers went from 8,934 to 8,934 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #3,979 to #3,979.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Holly
FAQ
Holly surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Holly?
The surname Holly holds position #3,979 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 10,385 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Holly surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Holly, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.3%. The next largest groups are Black (27.7%) and Hispanic (2.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.