Hollier Family History

English and French: occupational name for a brothelkeeper, Middle English, Old French holier, hollier (a dissimilated variant of horier ‘pimp’, agent noun from hore, hure ‘whore’, of Germanic origin). It was probably also used as an abusive nickname. English: topographic name for someone who lived by a holly grove or conspicuous holly tree, from a derivative of Middle English holi(e), holin ‘holly (tree)’ (from Old English hold(g)n).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press