Quote Originally Posted by BoldHighlander View Post
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.
The northern English word holm, I believe, IS derived from the Norse holmr, as many place name elements in the north of England are derived from Norse. I'm speaking etymologically, of course. This does not mean that the bearers of the name are of Norse origin, merely the word they use as a surname is.

Mac Thomáis (the "an" would incorrect as it means "the") does indeed mean son of Tomás (Thomas) in Irish. This would be pronounced as MAC HOM-ISH. Mac Thomàis and Mac Tamhais are Scottish Gaelic and are pronounced MAC HOM-ISH and MAC TAV-ISH respectively.

McComb would be Anglicised from Mac Thoim meaning son of Tom.