Show ContentsHollingshed History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hollingshed name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the region of Hollingside or Holmside in Durham. Hollin Old Hall is a house in Bollington, Cheshire, England with parts that date back to the 17th century and Hollin Hall is a country house in Crook in Cumbria that dates back to the 14th century.

Literally, the name originated from the expression 'of the hollins head,' as in "one who dwelt at the head of the hollin-bushes." [1]

Early Origins of the Hollingshed family

The surname Hollingshed was first found in East Cheshire where the area has "given birth to a large number of Hollingsheads from some immediate locality of that name." [1]

By example, some of the early records include: John del Holynshede, 1408: East Cheshire; and Hugh Hollinshead, of Bosley, Yeoman, 1541, both recorded there. [1]

Early History of the Hollingshed family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hollingshed research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1529, 1541, 1546, 1550, 1554, 1556, 1560, 1561, 1573, 1574, 1575, 1577, 1580, 1587, 1612, 1635, 1644, 1683 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Hollingshed History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hollingshed Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Hollingshed has undergone many spelling variations, including Hollinshed, Holinshed, Hollinshead, Holinshead, Hollingshead, Holingshead, Hollins, Holins, Hollings and many more.

Early Notables of the Hollingshed family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • He "is said to have been son of Ralph Holinshed or Hollingshed of Cophurst in the township of Sutton Downes, Cheshire, but the pedigree of the Holinsheds or Hollingsheds of Cophurst cannot be traced a...

Migration of the Hollingshed family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hollingshed were among those contributors: John and Grace Hollinshead, who came to West Jersey, from London, in circa 1678; Joseph Hollingshead who settled in Maryland in 1684; Clayton Hollingshead, who settled in Philadelphia in 1820.



  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)


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