Show ContentsHollinword History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hollinword

What does the name Hollinword mean?

The ancestry of the name Hollinword dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived as inhabitants by holly bushes. The surname Hollinword originally derived from the Old English word hollins. 1

Early Origins of the Hollinword family

The surname Hollinword 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 Hollinword family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hollinword 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 Hollinword History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hollinword 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 Hollinword have been found, including Hollingsworth, Hollinsworth, Hollingworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Hollinword 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 Hollinword Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hollinword family to Ireland

Some of the Hollinword 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.

Migration of the Hollinword family

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 Hollinword, or a variant listed above: Henry Hollingsworth settled in Pennsylvania in 1683; John Hollingsworth settled in Virginia in 1638; Richard Hollingsworth settled in Boston in 1635 with his wife and children.



The Hollinword 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)


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