De-Anglicisation of Names

[BoldHighlander]

Boldhighlander,
3) Etymologically speaking, the name Holmes is of Norse origin, from holmr. Therefore it can occur anywhere in the Isles.

I tried to add this to my other reply, but for some reason it wouldn't let me
Anyhow...

I had never ran across the Norse origin for Holmes, that is most interesting.
Here's what I've been able to dig up thus far:

Last Name Meaning & Genealogy Links for the Surname HOLMES
Meaning & Origin: A geographical surname from the northern Middle English holm, meaning "island" for an individual who lived on an island, or a piece of low-lying meadow lands near or surrounded by water.
Also, a geographic surname for someone who lived near where holly trees grew, from the Middle English holm.

Sometimes an Anglicized version of the Irish, Mac an Thomáis.

Surname Origin: English
Alternate Surname Spellings: HOLME, HUME, HOME, HOLM

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Last name origins & meanings:

English (chiefly central and northern England): variant of Holme.
Scottish: probably a habitational name from Holmes near Dundonald, or from a place so called in the barony of Inchestuir.
Scottish and Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Thomáis, Mac Thómais (see McComb). In part of western Ireland, Holmes is a variant of Cavish (from Gaelic Mac Thámhais, another patronymic from Thomas).

Thanks again...this is a very interesting thread.