Message: "Holness" - Behind the Name

[Surname] Holness

by Rory Skene

1/7/2020, 6:28 AM

I remember seeing on Challenge this very week that they were showing non stop episodes of Blockbusters as a tribute to its host Bob Holness who died the day before, but Holness isn't on the list. Is it an African name? I'm sure I remember reading that he was born in Africa, but what is its meaning?

#Holness

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- Lepic +3

1/7/2020, 7:12 AM

Holness is thought to be from the lost placename Holmherst in Smarden (Kent), from Old English holegn ‘holly’ and hyrst ‘hillock, copse’.

- Jim Young (guest) +2

1/7/2020, 12:21 PM

I always assumed it derived from the East Yorkshire district of Holderness.

- Lepic +1

1/7/2020, 1:05 PM

Seems like that's also a possibility according to the information at tinyurl.com/yjtno9y4.

- Jim Young (guest)

1/8/2020, 3:01 AM

Thanks for the link.

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