Surname Holman - Meaning and Origin

Holman: What does the surname Holman mean?

The surname Holman is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the old English word "holh," meaning hollow or hole, and "mann," meaning man. Thus, the name translates to "man who lives in the hollow". It is a topographical surname, meaning that it was given based on the geographical location or the features of the landscape where the original bearer lived or owned land. In the case of Holman, it referred to an individual who lived in or near a hollow or depression in the ground. These types of surnames became necessary as populations grew and it became confusing to differentiate between people with the same personal names. Holman, like many other surnames, would have started as a nickname to distinguish this person from others in their community. Variations of the surname include Holmen, Holford, and Holeman.

Holman: Where does the name Holman come from?

The surname Holman is of English origin and it largely derives from the Old English term "hol", meaning "hollow" or "concave", and "mann", which means "man". Hence, it was originally used to refer to someone who lived in a hollow or valley. It may also be derived from the Middle English term "holyman", indicating a person who served as a cleric or priest. The surname was first recorded in the early 13th century in Cambridgeshire.

Today, the surname is found most prevalently in the United States, mainly in the states of California, Texas, and Florida. It's also quite common in the United Kingdom (particularly South West England), Canada, and Australia. However, in terms of concentration (number of Holmans compared to overall population), it is most common in the Isle of Man.

Variations of the surname Holman

The surname Holman, primarily found in English-speaking countries, has numerous variants and is derived from several potential origins. The name variants and spellings may include Holmann, Holeman, Hollman, Holmon, Hoolman, Hohlman, Höllman (Swedish), and Höllmann (German).

In some cases, Holman could be a locational name, namely from places called Holme primarily in Northern England. As such, the surname Holme or Holmes are related.

In other cases, it could be an occupational name for a "holy man" or a priest, resulting in variants such as Holyman or Holliman.

If it's derived from the Old English ‘holh’ meaning hollow and ‘mann’ meaning man, then it could refer to a man living by a hollow or a valley – contributing to names like Hollowman or Hollomon.

Slightly more far-fetched links could be made to the German equivalent, Hollmann, potentially converted to Holman by immigrating families.

However, keep in mind, spelling could be highly variable in early historical records, as the English language didn't have a standardized spelling until more recent centuries.

Famous people with the name Holman

• Dwight Holman: actor, filmmaker and photographer.
• Jack Holman: American puppeteer and writer.
• Jim Holman: former US Navy officer, former mayor of San Diego, and founder of the San Diego Reader.
• Miriam Holman: Caribbean American singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Vernon "Duke" Holman: American jazz, blues and gospel pianist and organist.
• Feddie Holman: lead vocalist of the 1940s vocal group The Holman Brothers.
• Brant Holman: former American professional basketball player.
• Laurel Holman: former Canadian field hockey player.
• Joshua Holman: former American professional basketball player.
• Kyle Holman: American professional golfer.
• Holly Holman: comedic actress who appeared in the film The Hangover.
• Joanna Holman: British track and field athlete.
• Stuart Holman: English former footballer.
• Graham Holman: English former professional footballer.
• Sam Holman: American lawyer and founder of the Sam Holman Law Group.
• Ellie Holman: Swedish/British dentist and humanitarian.
• Bill Holman: American football player.
• Pat Holman: former professional American football player.
• Chris Holman: American figure skater.
• Justin Holman: American football quarterback.

Other surnames

HolmangHolmann