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From www.HouseOfNames.com Archives copyright © 2000 - 2009

Origin Displayed: English

Where did the English Holmes family come from? What is the English coat of arms/family crest? When did the Holmes family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

Holmes is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in an area that was referred to as a holme, a slightly raised islet in a fen or partially surrounded by a stream or river. The surname Holmes was originally derived from the Old English word Holen.

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Holmes family name include Holme, Hulme, Holmes, Holms and others.

First found in Lancashire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Holmes surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Charles Holm who settled in Philadelphia in 1866; Robert Holme settled in Barbados in 1654; Thomas Holme settled in Delaware in 1682 with his wife and four children.

Motto Translated: Trust, but in whom take care.

For more information on the last name Holmes, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.


Suggested Readings for the name Holmes
  • Falling Leaves: A History of the Holmes Family and Allied Lines by Marjorie J. Caskey.
  • Holmes Genealogy: A Compilation of Genealogical History About Adams Holmes (1720-1789) of New Braintree, Massachusetts by John Albert Holmes.

Some noteworthy people of the name Holmes
  • Elizabeth Holmes, American fine art photographer
  • Katie Holmes, American actress
  • David Holmes, American photorealistic painter
  • Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894), American physician, essayist and poet
  • Chris Holmes, Ph.D., of the Oxford Centre for Gene Function at Oxford University
  • Sir Frank Holmes, New Zealand economist
  • Sir Maurice Holmes, British Barrister
  • Philip Holmes, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University
  • William Holmes, Professor of Agriculture
  • Thomas William Holmes (1898-1950), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War


Tell Me More About Family Crests


Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist


We have researched the Holmes family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline


Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements


In the Holmes coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate


We encourage you to study the Holmes genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Holmes Family Crest Products


Anniversary products for the name Holmes.
Apparel with a Holmes coat of arms.
Armorial histories for the name Holmes.
Ceramics displaying the Holmes family crest.
Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.
Coat of Arms for the name Holmes.
Downloads proudly displaying the Holmes family crest.
Family Crest for the name Holmes.
Family Tree displaying the Holmes family crest.
Hand Painted Plaques emphasing the family crest for the name Holmes.
Keychains emphasing the Holmes family crest.
Mouse pads featuring the family crest for the surname Holmes.
New Products proudly displaying the Holmes family crest.
Packages revealing the family crest for the surname Holmes.
Plaques and Frames featuring the Holmes family crest.
Surname Histories for the name Holmes.
Symbolism with a Holmes family crest.
Travel Mugs with the coat of arms for the name Holmes.
Popular Products
Armorial History With Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 300 DPI
Key-chain
Coffee Mug
Armorial History with Frame
Framed Surname History and Coat of Arms
 

The Holmes Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Holmes Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

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