The Holly surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,934 people carried this name — #3,979 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 33,000 people counted. That is up 1% from 8,856 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Holly surname

A topographic surname from Middle English.

As an Irish surname, calque of mac cuilinn (“holly”) (see McCullen) and sometimes McQuillan.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Holly» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 8 births for the Holly name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 400 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Londonderry and Cork.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 4
Munster 3
Leinster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Poland’s population register

63 people named Holly have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 80 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 6 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Lower Silesian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Lower Silesian 18
Subcarpathian 18
Masovian 12
Lesser Poland 11
Lublin 2
Pomeranian 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In print

Holly in American newspapers,
1880–1916.

Newspaper page from The Sun carrying the name Holly
The Sun 1880-06-17
Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Holly
The Birmingham Age-herald 1916-03-15
Newspaper page from The Anaconda Standard carrying the name Holly
The Anaconda Standard 1898-08-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,277 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Holly in Australian newspapers,
1840s–1990s.

10,688 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Holly. The most, 1,774, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 3,117
Victoria 2,590
Queensland 1,749
South Australia 1,253
Western Australia 1,106
Tasmania 766
ACT (Canberra) 57
Northern Territory 18

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Holly.

Who carried it

People named Holly,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Birdsill Holly
    Birdsill Holly 1820–1894 · inventor
  • James Theodore Holly
    James Theodore Holly 1829–1911 · missionary
  • Willis Holly
    Willis Holly 1854–1931 · politician
  • Carrie C. Holly
    Carrie C. Holly 1866–1943 · politician
  • Anton Holly
    Anton Holly 1875–1932 · politician
  • Cornelius Holly d. 2016

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Holly,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,106 records

1,106 records of the Holly name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 305
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 300
  • Other U.S. records 501
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Herbert L. Holly

    Born 1911 in Mississippi. Enlisted 1942 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee; auto mechanic. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1967, buried at Memphis National Cemetery, Tennessee.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Terez Holly

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Bremen from Cherbourg, aged 24; house maid. From Gajer, Hungary.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Charlie Delno Holly

    Born 1945; from Tennessee Colony, Texas. U.S. Army, indirect fire infantryman; killed in action 1966 in South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,106 records for Holly in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia210 records

210 records of the Holly name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 101
  • Tasmanian Names Index 56
  • Other Australian records 53
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Holly

    Died 1886 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 69. Will registered in Tasmania in 1886.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Holly

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Guildford, arriving 1816; ticket of leave 1830. Native of Dublin City.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Ella Holly

    Arrived in Victoria in 1910 aboard the Suffolk, aged 23.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 210 records for Holly in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Germany42 records

42 records of the Holly name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Emil Holly

    From Tschirmkau. Reported taken prisoner in the Prussian casualty list of 12 March 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Franz Holly

    From Tschirmkau, Leobschütz. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 23 June 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Johannes Holly

    From Laderholz, Neustadt a. R. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 5 November 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 42 records for Holly in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Canada26 records

26 records of the Holly name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 17
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 3
  • Other Canadian records 6
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Holly

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Hibernian, landing at Quebec, bound for St. Cathrns, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Gladys Holly

    Died 1917 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Girl Holly

    Buried in 1957 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 26 records for Holly in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

Netherlands7 records

7 records of the Holly name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Amalia Anunriatha Marie Holly

    In the population register of Eibergen; born 1904.

    Open Archives, Erfgoedcentrum Achterhoek en Liemers (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Christian Holly

    In a population register.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Augustine Holly

    In a population register; born in Weenen (Oostenr.).

    Open Archives, Erfgoedcentrum Achterhoek en Liemers (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Holly in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

United Kingdom6 records

6 records of the Holly name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 5
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Holly

    Buried in 1849 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 60.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Holly

    Gunner, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record H. Holly

    King's (Liverpool Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Holly in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France3 records

3 records of the Holly name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Lea Henriette Holly

    Born 1904 in Frétoy (Seine-et-Marne); died 1986 in Louviers (Eure).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marcel Fabien Marie Holly

    Born 1930 in Ivory Coast; died 1988 in Ivory Coast.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Linda Holly

    Born 1915 in Egypt; died 1992 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Holly.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Holly is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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