The ancient roots of the Hold family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Hold comes from when the family lived near a grove or woods. The surname Hold originally derived from the Old English word holt which meant a "wood" or "grove." [1]
The surname Hold was first found in Lancashire at Ashworth, a parochial chapelry in the parish of Middleton, union of Bury, hundred of Salford. "A family named Ashworth was seated here as early as the 13th century, and appears to have been succeeded by the Holts: Richard Holt, an active supporter of the royal cause in the civil war, had his estate sequestrated in 1643, but it was afterwards restored." [2]
Hugo de Holte was a Knights Templar in Kent in 1185 and later Simon del Holt was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Warwickshire in 1230. Walter in the Holte was found in Somerset in 1260 and Hugh atte Holte was in Surrey in 1268. [3]
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Henry de la Holte, Worcestershire, and William del Holt, Yorkshire. [4]
In Somerset, William atte Holte and Walter atte Holte were both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) [5]
"The Holts, of [Buckinghamshire], are, for the most part, gathered together in and around Aylesbury. The name occurred as Le Holt in the county six centuries ago, and also in the eastern counties of Norfolk, Essex, and Kent. Lancashire is also another great home of the name of Holt, which also extends into Cheshire." [6]
An important branch of the family was found at Aston in Warwickshire. "The manor was purchased in 1366 from the heiress of de Maidenhach by John atte Holt, of Birmingham, and remained for many generations in the possession of his lineal descendants, of whom several were distinguished for their talents and for the important stations they occupied in society. Edward Holt, sheriff of the county in 1574, resided in the adjoining manor of Duddeston, there being at that time in Aston only an ancient house, probably of timber, situated on the bank of the River Tame near the church, and the site of which, now overgrown with trees, is discoverable only by part of the moat by which it was surrounded. On the demise of Edward Holt in 1593, the estate descended to his son Thomas, the most distinguished member of the family, who is represented by Dugdale as eminent for his literary acquirements. He was sheriff in 1600: on the arrival of James VI of Scotland to assume the crown of England, he attended that monarch in his route from Yorkshire, where he received the honour of knighthood; and in 1612 he was created one of the order of baronets, then recently instituted. Sir Thomas Holt enclosed the park, and erected the present stately Hall of Aston, unrivalled in these parts for beauty and magnificence, which he commenced in 1618, and completed in 1635." [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hold research. Another 219 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1597, 1640, 1713, 1387, 1418, 1578, 1624, 1578, 1545, 1599, 1545, 1642, 1710, 1689, 1642, 1571, 1654, 1679, 1649, 1722, 1682, 1729, 1616, 1686, 1654 and 1656 are included under the topic Early Hold History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hold has appeared include Holte, Holt and others.
Distinguished members of the family include John Beauchamp de Holt, created Baron Kidderminster, by Richard III in 1387.
John Holt (d. 1418), the English judge, "was a native and landowner of Northamptonshire, and his name occurs in the year-books from the fortieth year of Edward III onwards. In the last year of that reign he became a king's serjeant." [7]
Thomas Holt (1578?-1624), was an architect, a native of York, born about 1578, is noteworthy for the important works in Renaissance architecture executed by him at Oxford. [7]
William Holt (1545-1599), was a Jesuit, was born at Ashworth in Lancashire in 1545. [7]
Sir John...
Another 125 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hold Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Hold family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hold arrived in North America very early: