Holmes (surname)

Holmes
LanguageEnglish
Origin
LanguagesEnglish, Scottish Gaelic
MeaningVarious; in Highland Gaelic contexts, anglicisation of Mac Thomáis / Mac Thámhais[1]
Other names
Variant formsHolme, MacHomais, MacTamhais
AnglicisationsScottish Gaelic MacGilleTamhais, MacTamhais, MacHomais[2]

Holmes is an English-language surname with several origins.

The name can be a variant of the surname Holme.[3] This surname has several etymological origins: it can be derived from a name for someone who lived next to a holly tree, from the Middle English holm; it can also be derived from the Old English holm and Old Norse holmr.[4] Another probable origin of Holmes is from a placename near Dundonald, or else a place located in the barony of Inchestuir.

The surname is also sometimes an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Thomáis; similarly, Holmes can also be a variant of Cavish, derived as an Anglicised form of Mac Thámhais.[3] In the western Highland Gaelic dialect of Knapdale and Argyll, Holmes derives specifically from MacGilleTamhais, transitioning through MacTamhais and MacHomais before anglicising to Holmes — making it an associated family name of Clan MacTavish.[5][6] These Highland Holmes families are genealogically distinct from Lowland Holmes families, which have separate etymological origins.

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Fictional characters

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Patrick L. (2015). "The Transition of the MacGilletSamhais, MacStibhan, and Tahd Surnames" (PDF). Clan MacTavish. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  2. ↑ "Family Names and Septs of Clan MacTavish". Clan MacTavish. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  3. 1 2 Holmes Family History, Ancestry.com, retrieved 10 February 2012. This webpage cited: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4.
  4. ↑ Holme Family History, Ancestry.com, retrieved 10 February 2012. This webpage cited: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4.
  5. ↑ "Family Names and Septs of Clan MacTavish". Clan MacTavish. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  6. ↑ Thompson, Patrick L. (2015). "The Transition of the MacGilletSamhais, MacStibhan, and Tahd Surnames" (PDF). Clan MacTavish.

See also

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