Notable Figures of the Holt Line

High Sheriffs of Lancashire.

1575  Francis Holt, of Gristlehurst, near Bury
1619  John Holt, of Stubley.
1640  Robert Holt, of Castleton.

Lancaster Castle outside of the Shire Hall where it houses a magnificent display of more than 650 heraldic shields include the shields of the Holt High Sheriffs.

Stories Illustrating a Tapestry of Families and Histories

This collection weaves together the lives of many Holts, showing how their individual experiences illuminate the wider story of the Holt family across centuries. Each account stands on its own yet contributes to a shared narrative of lineage, place, and legacy, revealing how personal histories intersect to form a coherent ancestral tapestry.

Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Proceedings and papers session VI 1853-54 has a biographical notice of a late local antiquary by James Stonehouse. That is Mr. John Holt of Walton-on-the-hill near Liverpool, a schoolmaster of the Free Grammar School. Read more here.

Hereditary and non-hereditary knighthoods

Life knighthoods (non-hereditary)

• Sir Thomas Holt of Gristlehurst (knighted 1544)
• Sir John Holt, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (1699–1710), knighted at Whitehall 9 February 1686
• Sir Vesey George Mackenzie Holt (Bank of England director) He was appointed Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.). in 1920.
• Sir John Holt, K.B. (Knight of the Bath) 25 December 1383 — A Justice of Common Pleas, created as a Banneret at Eltham by the King (Northamptonshire Holt line).

Hereditary knighthoods (baronetcy)

• Sir Thomas Holt of Aston, 1st Baronet. The Aston baronetcy (1619) was created during the period when baronetcies were commonly purchased from the Crown as a means of raising revenue.
• Sir Edward Holt of Cheetham, Baronet (1904)(Holt Brewery line). Awarded for his public and civic work
• Sir Richard Durning Holt (Member of Parliament). He was created a baronet on 30 January 1935 for his services to shipping.