HOLLIS
Hollis is a surname of Anglo‑Saxon origin that is predominantly found in England. Its earliest attestations indicate a close relationship with the natural landscape and with particular geographic locales within the British Isles.
The name derives from the Old English words holh or holen, meaning “holly tree”, and the Middle English term holis, which also signifies “holly trees”. Consequently, the surname was originally employed as a topographic designation for individuals who lived near a stand of holly trees or in a place whose name was derived from the same element.
In addition to its topographic use, Hollis may have arisen as a locational surname, referencing any of the numerous settlements in England that bear the name Hollis. The medieval practice of identifying a person by the village or landmark from which they came makes such a derivation entirely plausible. Some records also suggest that the name could have been used as a patronymic, appearing as a variant of the medieval given name Holis, which itself may be related to Nicholas.
Documented spelling variants include Hollys, Holis, Holiss, Holliss, Hallis, Hallys and Holles. These differences often reflected local dialectal pronunciation and the orthographic practices of medieval scribes, making it challenging to trace a single lineage of the name. A further related form is Hollins, which may refer both to a dwelling by holly trees and to places named Hollins in Lancashire and West Yorkshire. Extended forms such as Hollyson and Holleson are occasionally encountered.
Historically, the surname was concentrated in the English counties of Derbyshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Over time it has spread to other English‑speaking territories, notably the United States and Canada, where it remains a recognised surname. In contemporary data the most frequently recorded singular extension of the name occurs in Dallas, Texas, although the name is still far more common within the United Kingdom.
Typical given names associated with the Hollis surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Ian
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Barbara
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gillian
- Jean
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Holi
- Holes
- Holik
- Holic
- Holas
- Holey
- Holick
- Holli
- Hailes
- Haills
- Hails
- Halace
- Halas
- Halasa
- Halasi
- Halasz
- Hales
- Halici
- Halies
- Halis
- Hallace
- Hallas
- Hallass
- Halles
- Hallez
- Hallies
- Hallis
- Halliss
- Hallos
- Hallous
- Hallows
- Halls
- Hals
- Halsa
- Halsaii
- Halse
- Halus
- Halusa
- Halys
- Haules
- Hawles
- Hayles
- Hayls
- Healas
- Healeas
- Heales
- Healess
- Healis
- Healiss
- Heallis
- Healls
- Heals
- Heelas
- Heeles
- Heelis
- Heels
- Helas
- Heles
- Helias
- Helies
- Helis
- Hellas
- Helles
- Helless
- Hellies
- Hellis
- Hellows
- Hells
- Helse
- Hewlis
- Heyles
- Heyls
- Hiels
- Hiils
- Hilas
- Hiles
- Hilis
- Hillas
- Hilles
- Hilless
- Hillias
- Hillies
- Hillis
- Hillose
- Hills
- Hils
- Hilse
- Hilsea
- Hilz
- Hlazo
- Hohly
- Hoiles
- Hoills
- Hoils
- Holce
- Holice
- Holin
- Holines
- Holins
- Holis
- Holl
- Hollas
- Holles
- Hollese
- Holley
- Hollich
- Hollick
- Hollicks
- Hollie
- Hollies
- Hollige
- Hollik
- Hollin
- Hollins
- Hollisey
- Holliss
- Hollist
- Hollit
- Hollitt
- Hollos
- Hollosi
- Hollous
- Hollows
- Holls
- Hollus
- Holly
- Holosi
- Hols
- Holse
- Holy
- Holye
- Holys
- Holysz
- Holz
- Holze
- Hoolas
- Hooles
- Hools
- Houles
- Houlis
- Houls
- Houlse
- Howles
- Howlie
- Howlins
- Howlls
- Howls
- Howly
- Hoyles
- Huels
- Huelse
- Hulce
- Hules
- Hulis
- Huliss
- Hulisz
- Hullis
- Hulls
- Hullys
- Huls
- Hulse
- Hulus
- Hulusi
- Hyles
- Wholley
- Wholly
- Hollidge
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Hollis in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Hollis are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Custard Cream.
There are approximately 8,730 people named Hollis in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,085th most common surname in Britain. Around 134 in a million people in Britain are named Hollis.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Hollis
- Mark Hollis - Singer (1955 to 2019)
- Roger Hollis - Director General of MI5 (1905 to 1973)
- Kelli Hollis - Actress
- John Hollis - Actor (1931 to 2005)
- Stanley Hollis - Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1912 to 1972)
- Martin Hollis - Video game designer
- Patricia Hollis, Baroness Hollis of Heigham - Baroness (1941 to 2018)
- Haydn Hollis - Football player
- Martin Hollis - Philosopher (1938 to 1998)
- Christopher Hollis - Politician (1902 to 1977)
- Crispian Hollis - Roman Catholic bishop
- Leslie Hollis - Royal Marines general (1897 to 1963)
- Roy Hollis - Football player (1925 to 1998)
- Lee Hollis - Scottish football player
- Mick Hollis - Football player
- Shayne Hollis - Bermudian football player
- Jermain Hollis - Football player
- Dennico Hollis - Bermudian cricketer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.