Hollin or Holland or Holly?

Richard Goss

Message 42683 · 22 Oct 2005 00:15:38 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

No documentation, but remember having been told also that it was a holly bush, as opposed to a dutch kiss.

Like a lot of RSCDS myths, the documentation is very hard to track down. My work with the Society and School of Scottish Studies started in the mid 70´s and ended in the mid 80´s, and I barely scratched the surface.

If we assume that the myth is inaccurate, there is another possibility. Yes, the Netherlands were the major trading partner for the east coast of scotland (just look at the roof tiles that came as ballast. but there are two historic Hollands, either of which might be the source. There is the Province of Holland in the Netherlands whose "state holder" was the guy who became William of Orange (as in William and Mary, Anne, and ancestors to the Hanover´s,, Battle of the Boyne, Orange Marches, and all that.
then there is the historic English earldom also called 3·Holland· for the same reason (hollow land) complete with windmills, dykes, but no Hans Brinkers. This was centered on the east coast north of Norfokk and South of Yorkshire. I am not sure of its boundaries, but I am sure that there was a connection with what is called "the Wash".
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