Holister History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Holister

What does the name Holister mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Holister comes from when the family resided at the village of Hollister in the county of Wiltshire. Some note that the name may have been derived from the Old English word holegn which means holly. If this is the case, the name would still be a local name but would refer to a person who lived by a cluster of holly trees.

Early Origins of the Holister family

The surname Holister was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Holister family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holister research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Holister History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Holister Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Holister has been recorded under many different variations, including Hollister, Holister and others.

Early Notables of the Holister family

More information is included under the topic Early Holister Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Holister family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Holister or a variant listed above: John Hollister who settled in Connecticut in 1630; another John Hollister settled in New England in 1755; Edward Hollister settled in Virginia in 1663.

The Holister 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: Currendo
Motto Translation: Running