Show ContentsHollingsworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hollingsworth has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived as inhabitants by holly bushes. The surname Hollingsworth originally derived from the Old English word hollins. 1

Early Origins of the Hollingsworth family

The surname Hollingsworth was first found in Chester at Hollingworth, a township, in the parish of Mottram-in-Longden-Dale, union of Ashton-underLyne, hundred of Macclesfield. 2 1

Today, the village is in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester.

The family descends from "a township in the parish of Mottram, co. Chester, possessed by the family in very early times." 3

The village dates back to before 1059 when it was listed as Holisurde. This was the spelling used in the Domesday Book of 1086. By the 13th century, it was listed as Holinewurth and literally meant "holly enclosure." 4

"From a period prior to the Conquest, the village wholly belonged to the family of Hollingworth, until, some centuries since, it was divided into two manors, one of which, with the old Hall or manor-house, continued in the hands of their descendants until the 1800s. Captain Robert de Hollingworth, after his return from India, re-purchased the ancient family estate from the Rev. Daniel Whitle, to whom his grandfather had sold it. He went about the arduous task to restoring the estate to its previous glory. "2

Exploring early rolls, we found Thomas de Holinewurth in the Staffordshire Pipe Rolls of 1211-1215, and Thomas de Holingworth in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1286. 5

Years later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls included: Johannes de Holynworth; and Rogerus Holymworth. 1

East Cheshire records included John de Holynworth, 1325; and John de Holynworth, of Disley, Cheshire, 1438. 1

Early History of the Hollingsworth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hollingsworth research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1607, 1626, 1631, 1632, 1639, 1640, 1654, 1656, 1662, 1684, 1701 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Hollingsworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hollingsworth Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hollingsworth have been found, including Hollingsworth, Hollinsworth, Hollingworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Hollingsworth family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Richard Hollinworth (Hollingworth) (1607-1656), an English clergyman of Presbyterian views, an influential figure in North-West England in the 1640's, educated at the Manchester grammar school and Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1626 and 1631. He was the son of Francis Hollinworth and Margaret...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hollingsworth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hollingsworth Ranking

In the United States, the name Hollingsworth is the 1,308th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Hollingsworth family to Ireland

Some of the Hollingsworth family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hollingsworth migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Hollingsworth, or a variant listed above:

Hollingsworth Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Hollingsworth, who settled in Boston in 1635 with his wife and children
  • John Hollingsworth, who settled in Virginia in 1638
  • John Hollingsworth, who landed in Maryland in 1650 7
  • George Hollingsworth, who arrived in Maryland in 1676 7
  • William Hollingsworth, who landed in Maryland in 1676 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hollingsworth Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Hollingsworth, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 7
Hollingsworth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Hollingsworth, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States from Down, in 1892
  • Annie Hollingsworth, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Sheffield, in 1895
  • E. Hollingsworth, aged 26, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1896
  • Bertram Hollingsworth, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1897
  • C. Hollingsworth, aged 36, who settled in America from Liverpool, in 1897
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hollingsworth Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Miss Ellen Hollingsworth, (b. 1859), aged 46, Cornish nurse travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to New York, USA 8
  • Ellen Hollingsworth, aged 46, who settled in America from Cornwall, in 1905
  • Charles R. Hollingsworth, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
  • Emma J. Hollingsworth, aged 45, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
  • Ada Hollingsworth, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Sheffield, England, in 1908
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hollingsworth migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hollingsworth Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Hollingsworth, aged 18 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Wm S. Hamilton" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 9
  • Mr. John Hollingsworth, aged 14 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Wm S. Hamilton" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In July 1847 9
  • Mr. Thomas Hollingsworth, aged 9 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Wm S. Hamilton" departing from the port of New Ross, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 9

Australia Hollingsworth migration to Australia +

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

Hollingsworth Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Elizabeth Hollingsworth, (b. 1781), aged 22, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1839 10
  • Daniel Hollingsworth, English convict from Hertford, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on October 16, 1826, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
  • Mr. William Hollingsworth, (b. 1809), aged 21, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1839 12
  • Mr. Thomas Hollingsworth who was convicted in Durham, England for life, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 4th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. James Hollingsworth, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hollingsworth migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hollingsworth Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edward Hollingsworth, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr. John Hollingsworth, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th September 1859 15
  • Mary Hollingsworth, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th September 1859 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Hollingsworth (post 1700) +

  • Dorothy L. Hollingsworth (1920-2022), American educator based in Seattle
  • Stanley Walker Hollingsworth (1924-2003), American composer
  • George Hollingsworth (1813-1882), American artist from Massachusetts
  • Mark Hollingsworth Jr. (b. 1954), American cleric, 11th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio (2004-)
  • Elaine Hollingsworth (b. 1928), birth name of Sara Shane, an American actress in film and television in the 1950s and early 1960s
  • David Adams Hollingsworth (1844-1929), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio (1909-1911), 16th Ohio Attorney General (1883-1884)
  • John Burnette Hollingsworth (1895-1990), American Major League Baseball pitched who played from 1922 to 1928
  • Albert Wayne "Al" Hollingsworth (1908-1996), American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher
  • Matt Hollingsworth (b. 1968), American comic book colorist
  • Quanitra Hollingsworth (b. 1988), American professional basketball player
  • ... (Another 32 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Hollingsworth Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Disce ferenda pati
Motto Translation: Learn to endure what must be borne.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. 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)
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  9. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 34)
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Andromeda voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1826 with 147 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1826
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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