Contents [hide]

Holl History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Holl History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
Germany
Scotland
Ireland

The first bearers of the distinguished surname Holl came to England in the great wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is occupational in origin, stemming from the primary activity of the bearer. It is derived from the Old French term "halle," which referred to a large manor house, which indicates that the original bearer of the name worked at the manor of the local Lord in some role such as a servant or chamberlain.

Not all of the family moved to England, as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Serlo de Haula and Robert de Hala of Normandy in 1198. 1

"The principal apartment in all old mansions was the hall, and in feudal times it was a petty court of justice as well as the scene of entertainment. The chief servitor when the lord was resident, or the tenant when he was non-resident, would naturally acquire such a surname; and hence its frequency." 2

Early Origins of the Holl family

The surname Holl was first found in Lincolnshire, England, where the family is directly descended from Earl Fitzwilliam, who held a family seat at Greatford Hall in Lincolnshire after the Norman Conquest. 1

The younger son of this noble house, Arthur FitzWilliam, came to be known as "Hall" so as to distinguish him from his senior brother. Hence, Arthur Hall was the first known bearer of the name, appearing on record around the year 1090. 1

"Two principal areas of greatest frequency: one in the north of England in the counties of Northumberland and Durham, where it attains the greatest relative frequency, extending; however, in moderate numbers across the border into central Scotland; the other in the midland counties, especially in Derbyshire." 3

Warin de Halls was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1178, Robert de la Hall in Hampshire in 1199, Alan atte Halle in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296, Robert de Hall in the Subsidy Rolls for Derbyshire in 1327, and Richard in the Halle in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 4

Years later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 has two listings for the family with the same early spelling: Roger de la Halle, Cambridgeshire; and Walter de la Halle, Salop (Shropshire). Later again, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Willelmus atte Hall and Isabella at ye Halle. 5

Early History of the Holl family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holl research. Another 260 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1105, 1340, 1436, 1440, 1444, 1446, 1448, 1449, 1479, 1574, 1600, 1610, 1613, 1619, 1620, 1630, 1637, 1651, 1654, 1656, 1660, 1662, 1665, 1667, 1668, 1669, 1676, 1687, 1688, 1690, 1692, 1776 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Holl History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Holl Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hall, Halle, Haule, Haul, Hal, De Aule and others.

Early Notables of the Holl family

Distinguished members of the family include

William Hole or Holle (fl. 1600-1630), was an English engraver, one of the earliest English engravers, is notable as the earliest engraver of music on copperplates in this country. 6

Holl Ranking

In the United States, the name Holl is the 12,205^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Holl family to Ireland

Some of the Holl family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Holl migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Holl Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Gotth Holl, who arrived in America in 1732 8
Hans Wendel Holl, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 8
Isaac Holl, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 8
Johannes Holl, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 8
Hans Holl, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Holl Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Justus Holl, who arrived in America in 1834 8
Widow Holl, aged 25, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1847 8
A Marie Holl, aged 29, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 8
Caver Holl, aged 43, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 8
Philipp Holl, who arrived in North America in 1849 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Holl migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Holl Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Patrick Holl, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1828

Holl migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Holl Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Lewellyn Holl, (Davies) who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
James Holl, aged 40, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "William Prowse" 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Holl (post 1700) +

Steven Holl (b. 1947), American architect and watercolorist, best known for his designs for the 2003 Simmons Hall at MIT
Emil Holl, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1904 11
Edwin G. Holl, American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1961-66; Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 24th District, 1969-2002 11
William Holl the Elder (1771-1838), English engraver who was apparently of German origin 12
Francis Montague "Frank" Holl (1845-1888), English painter and royal portraitist, born on 4 July 1845, at No. 7 St. James's Terrace, Kentish Town, was the eldest son of Francis Holl [q. v.], engraver 12
Francis Holl (1815-1884), English engraver, fourth son of William Holl the Elder 12
William Holl the Younger (1807-1871), English engraver and figure engraver, best known for his book illustrations, brother of France Holl, son of William Holl the Elder
Norbert Holl, German diplomat, Head of the United Nations special mission to Afghanistan from 1996 to 1997
Jeffrey B. Holl (b. 1970), Canadian poet and musician
John Holl (1802-1869), English-born, Canadian politician in Prince Edward Island, believed to have emigrated in 1836 from Devon, appointed to the legislative council in 1840 and later became Premier of Prince Edward Island (1854-1855)
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Holl family +

Empress of Ireland

Miss Edith Holl (1900-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 13

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
South Australian Register Monday 21st August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) William Prowse 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamprowse1854.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 4 August 2020
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html