Show ContentsHollywood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Hollywood comes from when the family resided as inhabitants at the hollow-way or holy way. 1

Hollywood is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names.

John Halifax or Holywood (Latin: Johannes de Sacro Bosco) (fl. 1230), was an early English mathematician, probably born at Halifax in Yorkshire. "Holywood is said to have studied at Oxford, and to have afterwards settled at Paris about 1230. The remainder of his life was spent in Paris, where he died, either in 1244 or 1256." 2

Early Origins of the Hollywood family

The surname Hollywood was first found in Middlesex at Holloway, a district in the parish of Islington, Finsbury division of the hundred of Ossulstone. 3

Today, it is part of Greater London. There are a few different possible origins of the place name but the generally accepted origin is from the Old English words "hol" + "weg" which evolved to mean "the road with a hollow." 4 One of the first listings of the district was in 1307, when it was listed as Le Holeweye.

Richard de Holeweia was found in the Pipe Rolls for Devon in 1130 and later Hohn de la Holewete was found in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1275. John Holewey was in the Hundredorum Rolls for Oxford in 1279 and John del Hollewaye was in Yorkshire in 1308. A few years later, Hugh atte Holewey was listed in Devon in 1310. 5

There were two listings for the family in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Johannes de Holeweye, Wiltshire; and William de Holeweye, Warwickshire. 6

In Somerset, William Holeweye was there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign). 7

Early History of the Hollywood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hollywood research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1562, 1581, 1582, 1599, 1604, 1616, 1666, 1684, 1691, 1695, 1720, 1722, 1723, 1734, 1759 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hollywood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hollywood 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. Hollywood has been recorded under many different variations, including Holloway, Hollway, Holoway, Hollaway, Hollywood and others.

Early Notables of the Hollywood family

Notables of this surname at this time include: James Holloway (died 1684), an English merchant from Bristol, and conspirator of the Rye House Plot.John Holloway (c. 1666-1734), was a politician and lawyer in the British colony of Virginia, Speaker of the House of Burgesses (1720-1734) and first Mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia (1722-1723.)Benjamin Holloway (1691?-1759), was an English divine, born at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, about 1691, was the son of Joseph Holloway, 'brasiator' (maltster), of that town. 2James Holloway (d. 1684), was an English "conspirator, a citizen of Bristol, probably imbibed strong protestant opinions from the master to whom he was apprenticed...
Another 152 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hollywood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hollywood family to Ireland

Some of the Hollywood family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 193 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hollywood migration to the United States +

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 Hollywood or a variant listed above:

Hollywood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Rose Ann Hollywood, aged 17, who arrived in America from County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1893
  • B. Hollywood, aged 27, who arrived in America, in 1894
  • Kak Hollywood, aged 40, who arrived in America from Liverpool, England, in 1897
Hollywood Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Benjamin Hollywood, aged 30, who arrived in America from County Armagh, Ireland, in 1903
  • Bernard Hollywood, aged 22, who arrived in America from County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1905
  • Cassie Hollywood, aged 26, who arrived in America from County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1907
  • Lilly Hollywood, aged 21, who arrived in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1907
  • William Hollywood, aged 27, who arrived in America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1907
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Hollywood migration to Australia +

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

Hollywood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Owen Hollywood, aged 29, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"
  • Catherine Hollywood, aged 27, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"

New Zealand Hollywood 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:

Hollywood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Eliza Hollywood, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Queen Bee" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 10th January 1872 8
  • Mr. John Hollywood, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Queen Bee" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 10th January 1872 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Hollywood (post 1700) +

  • Paul John Hollywood (b. 1966), English baker, celebrity chef and cookbook author, best known for being a judge on The Great British Bake Off
  • Matt Hollywood (b. 1973), American indie rock guitarist and singer
  • Gary Michael Hollywood (b. 1979), Scottish actor who is best known for his role as Dino Doyle in the BAFTA-winning show Mrs. Brown's Boys
  • Kate Hollywood (b. 1986), Australian two-time gold and silver medalist field hockey player


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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