Hollister
An English surname most likely from a place name or a nickname linked to holly or hollows, with the exact origin not securely settled.
The #5,992 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 53,826 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Hollister is generally treated as English, but its exact source is not firmly established from the available evidence. It is often connected either with a place-name built on Old English elements for holly or a hollow, or with a related surname form such as Hollis, itself tied to holly. The ending -ster may reflect an old surname formation or later spelling development rather than carrying a clear separate meaning on its own.
History
The name appears in English surname tradition and later spread to North America with migration from Britain. Modern bearers are most common in the United States today, where the name is relatively uncommon. Historical sources often group it near Hollis, Hollingworth, and other similar names, suggesting overlap or confusion in earlier records.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because early surname spellings were highly fluid, Hollister was sometimes recorded near other Hollis- and Hollow- names in old indexes and compilations.
From the historical record
“Hollingworth, 479. Hollis, 437. Hollister, 437. Hollohan, 437. Hollo way, 319. Hollowbush, 256, Hollowell, 176. Holly, 250.”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)