Surname Holes - Meaning and Origin
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Holes: What does the surname Holes mean?
The last name Holes is of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Middle English words "hol" and "hull" which mean "hollow" or "depression." It is believed that the original bearer of the surname lived in an area which had a hollow or depression in its geography.
In some instances, the name has also been linked to the ancient pre-7th century word "hol" meaning "holly" or "yew tree," indicating that the original bearer of the surname may have lived near a grove of holly or yew trees.
In England, the surnames Holes and Holles have been recorded since the 13th century, appearing in historic documents such as the Hundred Rolls of 1279. At this time, the Holes family of Devonshire, and the Holles family of York, are among the earliest recorded of the name.
Throughout the centuries, the Holes surname has been associated with numerous prominent families, including the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Meath, the Earl of Pembroke, and the Earl of Clarendon.
The Holes surname is quite common, with over 30,000 individuals bearing the name recorded in Great Britain today. Bearers of the surname are found in many countries around the world, indicating that the name is of widespread usage.
Order DNA origin analysisHoles: Where does the name Holes come from?
The last name Holes is most commonly found in England, where it is a topographic name from the Old English personal name Hola with the addition of the suffix -es used to create a patronymic, meaning “son of Hola.”
Today, the surname is commonly found in other English-speaking countries, including the United States, Australia, and Canada. It is particularly concentrated in counties with historically strong English influence, such as Norfolk in the Eastern region of England and Lancashire in the North West of England.
The highest number of Holes households are found in Norfolk, which is likely due to the county’s historical significance as a major centre for the wool and the cloth industries.
In the United States, the last name Holes is found in the highest concentrations in Pennsylvania, ranked 7th in the U.S., followed by New Jersey, Ohio, and California. Pennsylvania’s highest numbers of Holes households are found in the counties of Lehigh, Philadelphia, and Northampton.
In Australia, the most common locations for the last name Holes are New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The last name is also found in South Australia and Western Australia.
In the 2011 Canadian census, the surname Holes was found with the highest concentrations in Ontario, followed by British Columbia, Alberta, and Québec.
Overall, the last name Holes is commonly found in English-speaking countries, with the highest household numbers found in Norfolk, England, Pennsylvania, United States, and in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.
Variations of the surname Holes
The surname Holes is believed to have originated from English and Scandinavian origins. It can be spelled as "Hols", "Høl", "Höles" and "Holles". The meaning of the surname is thought to refer to a variety of different meanings such as 'a man from a hollow or valley', 'a man of the island', a 'man from the valley of the holy cross', and also 'a man of the hall or manor'.
Variants of Holes are listed by various sources such as the Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland and the House of Names as Holles, Holls, Holes, Hole, Höles, Holse, Hollace, Alhols, Hawles, Holese, Hooles, Hollies, Hollyss and Hoales. In addition to these variants, some sources list the Scandinavian spelling of 'Høl' as a variant.
The surnames for Holes also evolved over time, particularly in different countries and locations. Holse, Hole, Hoel, Hoell, Höles and Höl are the different spellings and surnames of the same origin for Holes in Germany, Denmark, and Scandinavia. In France, the surname Holes is recorded as Houlls, Hole, Holles, Holles, Hola, and Holse. In Ireland, the variants Hollis, Hales, Hawles, Howles and Hoole can be found in some places.
Finally, in the United States, the surname Holes is often spelled Hoel, Hole, Holls, Holes, Hollace, Hoales, and Holce. While some families may have adopted and changed their spelling of this surname over time, the main variants remain the same.
Famous people with the name Holes
- Zachary Holes: Lead singer and guitarist for the rock band The Mighty Pilots.
- Cole Holes: Actor, known for roles in the television series Suits and Shoot the Messenger.
- Angie Holes: Blues singer and songwriter.
- Mark Holes: Professional golfer, member of the PGA Tour.
- Suzi Holes: Voice actress, known for her roles in several animated films.
- David Holes: Actor, known for his roles in the television drama Grey's Anatomy.
- Rod Holes: Motocross champion, won the 2009 AMA Motocross Championship.
- Sarah Holes: Professional tennis player, reached a career-high singles ranking of number 40 in the world.
- Neve Holes: Sculptor, internationally renowned for her large scale bronze works.
- Doris Holes: Award-winning actress and theatre director.