Holmes

Holmes is a surname of English origin. It is derived from the Old English holm, meaning a small island or river islet, or from a toponymic element referring to an inhabited holm. The name has variants including Holme and Holm and is common in English-speaking countries. In addition to surnames, Holmes is encountered as a place name in various regions, including Holmes County in several U.S. states.

Notable individuals with the surname include Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809–1894), an American physician, poet, and essayist; and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841–1935), his son, who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. The surname is borne by many others across fields such as science, law, and the arts.

The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is among the most famous uses of the name. Debuting in 1887 in A Study in Scarlet, Holmes is a consulting detective whose analytical methods and powers of observation have defined the archetype of detective fiction and influenced popular culture extensively.

Holmes also appears in other contexts, including as a surname for various characters and as a place name in some regions. The name remains widely recognized in literature, history, and contemporary society.