Patronymic was used by illegitimate royal children who were acknowledged as such by their fathers. The use of "Mac" in some form was prevalent in Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Manx, in all of which it denotes "son". "Mc" is also a frequent anglicisation in both Scotland and Ireland. In Ireland, the forms "Mag" and "M'" are encountered. The prefix "Mac" is used to form a patronym, such as "Mac Coinnich" – or the anglicized 'Mackenzie' – son of Coinneach/Kenneth. The female equivalent of "Mac" is "Nic", condensed from "nighean mhic" (in Scottish Gaelic) or "iníon mhic" (in Irish), both meaning daughter.
Holmes (surname) Holmes (surname) Holmes is an English-language surname with several origins. The name can be a variant of the surname "Holme". This surname has several etymological origins: it can be derived from a name for someone who lived next to a holly tree, from the Middle English "holm"; it can also be derived from the Old English "holm" and Old Norse "holmr". Another origin of Holmes is from a placename near Dundonald, or else a place located in the barony of Inchestuir. The surname is also sometimes an Anglicised form of the Gaelic "Mac Thomáis"; similarly, "Holmes" can also be a