Surname Hollyday - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hollyday: What does the surname Hollyday mean?
The last name Hollyday is of English origin. It is likely derived from the Middle English name "holy day" or "holi day." The name probably originated as a nickname given to someone who celebrated a holiday or a special occasion. The surname is also found as Holliday, Holladay, and Hollida. The first known bearer of the surname was mentioned in 1273 in the accounting calendar of Durham Abbey, a monastery in England.
In the Middle Ages, the English often named their child after days when special religious holidays were celebrated like Easter and Pentecost. “Hollyday” could also refer to an individual who was perhaps born on a holy day. This explanation of the origin of the last name is strengthened by the fact that variants of the name, like "Holliday," are still commonly used in the United Kingdom to refer to a holiday.
The name Hollyday has no direct relationship to the holly plant. In fact, "Holly" is a variant of the old English name "Halig" which means holy. Over time, the hohlige variation of the name, "Holly," was adopted and contributed to the transformation of the last name.
Today, the surname, Hollyday, is scattered throughout England, Ireland and the United States. It is also common in Scotland, Australia and Canada. Given its long history and diverse areas of origin, the surname is rather unique.
Order DNA origin analysisHollyday: Where does the name Hollyday come from?
The last name Hollyday is most common in the United States today. It is especially prevalent in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas. According to US Census data, over 6,000 people in the United States share the last name Hollyday.
In England, according to the UK census of 2018, approximately 350 people have the surname Hollyday.
Hollyday is an old English surname, and is thought to be derived from various sources. One potential source is the name Holedey, which was taken by a family living in Kent County in the 13th century. At the same time, the Holidays, also believed to be related to Hollyday, were living in Lincolnshire.
The name Hollyday is also found in Ireland. According to research conducted by the National University of Ireland, Galway, 408 Irish people have the last name Hollyday.
The surname Hollyday has also spread to other countries throughout the world, including Germany and India.
Overall, the name Hollyday is most common in the United States today, but is also found in England, Ireland, Germany, and India. The origin of the surname is thought to be old English, although its exact sources remain unclear.
Variations of the surname Hollyday
The surname Hollyday is an English toponymic surname, deriving its origin from a place-name or a location. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin of Hollyday include Holliday, Holliway, Hollway, Holeyday, Holyday, Holeadde, Holeade, Holedae, Holedey, Holladaye, Holladdea, Halladae, Halladdey, Halladdai, Hallodedai, and Hollõdai.
The name Hollyday is recorded in the county of Norfolk in 1303 as Hereward de Holiway, and later it is recorded in 1432, as also in the Portsmouth Magna Carta di Haliwate. In Yorkshire, the name occurred as Thomas de Holledaye, from Syningthwaite in the year 1379.
The earliest settlement of the family was in Yorkshire, where many of the name would have gained land and wealth during the 14th century. The family has also been found in many places in England over the centuries, and more recently in North America.
In Scotland, the earliest records of the name were found as John Holoday in 1440, in Edinburgh.
The surname has many variants, and some of the modern variations are Halliday and Holiday. The spelling of the surname has also evolved and changed over centuries, along with the language and the customs of the people.
The name is also found in many other countries including Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. As people moved to these countries, the spelling of the name changed according to the country's language and customs. In some cases, the name became an Anglicised version of the original version, such as the name Holliday in North America, or the Scottish version Holiday, and the Irish version Haliway.
Famous people with the name Hollyday
- Billie Holiday: Jazz singer and civil rights activist.
- Andrew Hollyday: Professional actor and filmmaker.
- John Hollyday: Hollywood based film director.
- Henry Hollyday: Professional golfer.
- Alastair Hollyday: British actor.
- Henry Hollyday Turner: Actor and comedian.
- Nadine Hollyday: International television presenter.
- Paul Hollyday: Actor, motivational speaker and author.
- Eddie Hollyday: British singer and former member of the boy band A1.
- Jack Hollyday: Singer, songwriter and producer.