Holmes Family History

English: either from the plural form of Holme or else a variant of Holme or Home with excrescent -s (see Holm). Scottish: probably a habitational name from Holmes near Dundonald (Ayrshire) or possibly from another place so called in the barony of Inchestuir (Angus).

Both placenames likely derive from the plural form of Middle English Older Scots holm ‘islet raised land in a marsh’ (see Holm). Scottish and Irish: adopted for Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Thómais Mac Thómais (see McComb).

In parts of western Ireland Holmes is also a variant of Cavish from Gaelic Mac Thámhais another patronymic from Thomas. Early bearers in Ireland were probably immigrants from Scotland.