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Holley Family History

Holley Surname Meaning

English:: nickname from Middle English hol ‘hollow’ + eie egh(e) ‘eye’ (Old English hol + ēage) perhaps a nickname for someone with a missing eye.

Topographic name for someone who lived by a ‘clearing in a hollow’ from Middle English hol ‘hollow’ + lei(e) ‘woodland clearing’.

Singular variant of Hollis.

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


Similar surnames

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Holley family from?

You can see how Holley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Holley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Holley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 218 Holley families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Holley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Holley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Holley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Holley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Holley. 11% of Holley men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Holley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Holley were Grocers Assistant and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Holley | 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

  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Colliery Hewer
    7%
  • Farm Carter
    4%
  • Grocers Assistant
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%

What Holley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 101,000 census records available for the last name Holley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Holley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Holley

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Holley. 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 Holley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 25,000 military records available for the last name Holley. For the veterans among your Holley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Holley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Holley family history

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What is the average Holley lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Holley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Holley in 1940 was 45, and 72 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Holley 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.

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