Holyan last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Holyan

An Americanized spelling of the Armenian surname Khōlian, which referred to quarrymen or miners.

Holyan, 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 Holyan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Holyan in America

Holyan is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Holyan surname appeared 106 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Holyan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Holyan 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 153769 143847 6.67%
Count 106 106 0.00%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.04 0.00%

The history of the last name Holyan

The surname HOLYAN is believed to have originated in Armenia during the medieval period. It is derived from the Armenian word "hol," which means "valley" or "hollow," suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in a valley or low-lying area.

The earliest known records of the HOLYAN surname date back to the 13th century, when it was documented in Armenian monastic records and chronicles. It is possible that the name appeared even earlier, but records from that time are scarce due to various historical upheavals and conflicts in the region.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule over Armenia, the HOLYAN surname was found in various parts of the country, particularly in the regions of Ararat and Vayots Dzor. Some variants of the spelling include Holian, Holoyan, and Holoian, reflecting regional dialects and transcription differences.

One notable bearer of the HOLYAN surname was Grigor Holyan (c. 1350-1425), a renowned Armenian calligrapher and illuminator of manuscripts. His work can be found in numerous Armenian churches and monasteries, where he contributed to the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage through his intricate calligraphy and illustrations.

Another prominent figure was Khachatur Holyan (1712-1784), an Armenian theologian and philosopher who wrote extensively on topics such as logic, ethics, and metaphysics. His works were widely studied in Armenian educational institutions and helped shape the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 19th century, Tigran Holyan (1845-1911) gained recognition as a skilled architect and engineer. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings in the city of Yerevan, including the prestigious Yerevan State University and the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.

As the Armenian diaspora spread across the world, the HOLYAN surname can be found in various countries, particularly in regions with significant Armenian communities. However, the name remains deeply rooted in its Armenian origins, carrying the history and heritage of a people who have endured and persevered through numerous challenges.

While the HOLYAN surname may not be among the most widely recognized, it holds a special significance in Armenian culture and history, serving as a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Armenian people throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Holyan

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

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 Holyan was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 19.81% 21
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 76.42% 81
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Holyan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 19.81% 15.09% 27.05%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 76.42% 82.08% -7.14%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Holyan last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/holyan-surname-popularity/.

"Holyan last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/holyan-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Holyan last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/holyan-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.