This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Holyoak family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Holyoak Family History

Holyoak Surname Meaning

English (Leicestershire): habitational name from Holy Oakes (Leicestershire) or else a topographic name from residence near a ‘holy oak’ (or ‘gospel oak’) from Middle English holy ‘holy’ + oke ‘oak’ (Old English hālig + āc).

This oak would have marked a parish boundary where during the annual beating the bounds on Rogation Days a halt was made for a Gospel reading.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Holyoak family from?

You can see how Holyoak families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Holyoak family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Holyoak families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 146 Holyoak families living in Leicestershire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Holyoak's in United Kingdom. Leicestershire had the highest population of Holyoak families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Holyoak surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Holyoak ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Hosiery Machinist and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Holyoak. 15% of Holyoak men worked as a Hosiery Machinist and 71% of Holyoak women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Holyoak were Unemployed General Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Holyoak | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Hosiery Machinist
    15%
  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Builders Labourer
    12%
  • Unemployed General Labourer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%

What Holyoak family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Holyoak. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Holyoak census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Holyoak

Passenger Lists

There are 701 immigration records available for the last name Holyoak. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Holyoak immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 699 military records available for the last name Holyoak. For the veterans among your Holyoak ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Holyoak military records

You've only scratched the surface of Holyoak family history

Discover More

What is the average Holyoak lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Holyoak life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Holyoak in 1962 was 74, and 63 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Holyoak

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Holyoak ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Holyoak family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial