[Surname] Re: Holness
in reply to a message by Rory Skene
Holness is thought to be from the lost placename Holmherst in Smarden (Kent), from Old English holegn ‘holly’ and hyrst ‘hillock, copse’.
Replies
I always assumed it derived from the East Yorkshire district of Holderness.
Seems like that's also a possibility according to the information at tinyurl.com/yjtno9y4.
Thanks for the link.