Holloway
A surname most often derived from a place name meaning a hollow or sunken road.
The #576 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 5,320 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Holloway is generally understood as a locational surname from a place called Holloway, especially the well-known area in London and other places of the same name. The name comes from Old English elements meaning something like “hollow way” or “sunken road,” referring to a lane worn down below the surrounding ground. In some cases it may also have been adopted from minor localities with the same descriptive sense.
History
The surname appears in English records in several spellings, including Holloway, Holloway, Hollway, and Holway. The sources place it chiefly in England, with references to Devon and Warwickshire among the local associations. It later spread widely in Britain and abroad, and it remains a fairly common surname in the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Holloway is also the name of a famous district in north London, which helped keep the surname visible over time.
From the historical record
“London, 2. Holway ; v. Holloway. A va- riant. MDB. (co. DevonX 2. Holyday.— Bapt ; v. Halh'day.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)