Surname Holles - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Holles: What does the surname Holles mean?
The last name Holles is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the old medieval given name Hals, meaning “the neck” or “the throat.” During the 12th and 13th centuries, many English families adopted a last name to identify themselves and their kinship. The Holles family is believed to have settled in the English county of Devon, where records indicate the Holles family was present in the area in 1327.
In the days before modern medicine, illnesses like choking and sore throats were quite common and often fatal, so someone with the surnayme Holles was likely to have been someone with medical knowledge of how to treat such ailments. In some cases, the name might have been linked to a person or family who had connections to an ancient healing order that had developed remedies for these conditions.
This might also explain why over time, the Holles family name became synonymous with medicine. The Holles family continues to be a well-known and well-respected medical family today. This is evidenced by the establishment of the Holles group of medical practitioners in 1945, a group of clinicians, researchers, and medical professionals from around the world who share a passion for improving treatments and standards of care in hospices.
Order DNA origin analysisHolles: Where does the name Holles come from?
The Holles surname is still quite common today, especially in England. According to Forebears, the surname Holles is most common in Australia, where it ranks 6,858th in popularity. It is estimated to be held by around 8,802 people in the country, mostly of European descent.
In addition to Australia, the name Holles is also found in England, where it ranks 11,198th in popularity. It is estimated to be held by 8,171 people in the country. Other parts of the UK where the name can be found include Scotland and Wales.
The surname can also be found in the United States and Canada, where it is quite rare. In the US it ranks 40,841st in popularity and is estimated to be held by around 3,338 people. In Canada, it ranks 15,794th in popularity and is estimated to be held by only 353 people.
Outside of the British Isles, the surname is found mainly in the Netherlands and Germany, as well as in South Africa and other former British colonies. The name remains relatively rare in these countries, however.
Variations of the surname Holles
The surname Holles is derived from a Middle English given name Holes, which means “man of the hollow.” The original spelling of the surname is Holles, however there are several variations and spellings that have been recorded, including Holl, Holls, Hollies, Hollis, Hollace, Hollaceck, Hollacey, Haules, Holes, Hallas, and Hallese.
In some cases, the surname Holles has been altered even further, resulting in variants such as Holling, Hollings, Hollinger, Hollingworth, Hollingsworth, Hollaas, Holehouse, Hollaway, Hollar, Holler, Hallo, and Hollander.
The form of the surname Holles is found with considerable frequency in Scotland, particularly in areas of Dumfries, Midlothian and Berwickshire. In England, it is most commonly found in regions of Cornwall and East Anglia. In the United States, the surname has been recorded in states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and Maine.
Other spellings of Holles from around the world include Holle, Hollweg, Holler, Hollier, Holleman, Hollweg, and Hölle. In Germany, the surname is known as Holl and in Denmark, Holla is an accepted spelling. Other names of similar origin that are not directly related to the Holles surname include Holes, Hollis, Holley, and Holman.
Famous people with the name Holles
- Christopher Holles: Founder of the Imperial Russian Ballet Company in 1903
- John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare: English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1643
- Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles: English statesman and politician who served in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords
- Philip Holles: British military officer who served with distinction during the English Civil War
- Robert Holles, 1st Baron Holles of Ifield: English politician who served as a member of the House of Commons and a Lord of the Admiralty
- William Holles: English statesman and Lord Privy Seal from 1625 to 1641
- Philip FitzHolles, 1st Baron FitzHolles of Southwark: English politician and Member of Parliament
- Richard Holles, 1st Baron Holles: English politician who served as Member of Parliament in the English Parliament and Lord High Treasurer of England
- Robert Holles, 2nd Baron Holles of Ifield: English nobleman and Member of the House of Lords
- Robert Holles, 3rd Baron Holles of Ifield: English nobleman and Member of the House of Lords