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The surname Holmes, particularly of Irish descent, has origins that are somewhat different from the English version of the surname, which typically denotes someone who lived by a holly tree, derived from the Old English "holen." In Ireland, however, the Holmes surname is often an anglicization of the native Gaelic O'hUllachain, which translates to "descendant of Ullachan." The name Ullachan itself is a diminutive of "ullach," meaning "proud" or "arrogant."

The O'hUllachain family originally hailed from County Clare on the west coast of Ireland, and the name has been recorded in the annals of Irish history since the early medieval period. Over time, as English influence spread across Ireland, many Gaelic names were translated into their English equivalents or phonetically anglicized to sound more English. This process was often carried out by English clerks who were recording taxes or censuses and was further exacerbated during the time of the British colonization of Ireland.

As a consequence of the anglicization process, O'hUllachain evolved into several variations, with Holmes being one of them. This change was especially prevalent during the 17th and 18th centuries, when many Irish people began to adopt English names or modify their own to fit into the new social and political realities of British rule. Therefore, those bearing the Holmes surname of Irish descent likely have ancestral roots that trace back to the ancient Gaelic clans of Ireland.

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