Surname Hughes - Meaning and Origin

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I. Hughes

Hughes: What does the surname Hughes mean?

The surname Hughes is of Welsh origin and is derived from the ancient Celtic personal name 'Hughe'. This name constitutes a variant form of the name Hugh, a popular personal name in the Middle Ages. The name 'Hugh' is of Germanic origin and means 'heart/mind', making 'Hughes' essentially 'son of Hugh'. The 's' indicates 'son of' just as 'son' does in many English names. The surname became quite popular in Ireland due to Welsh immigration, and over time it also got transformed into the Irish surname 'Ó hAodha' which is usually anglicized as Hughes. The Hughes name has been widely carried in Wales and adjacent England, and in Ireland. Some distinguished people with the surname Hughes include American entrepreneur Howard Hughes and Irish writer Richard Hughes. The spelling variations of Hughes include Hews, Hues, Huse and others.

Hughes: Where does the name Hughes come from?

The surname Hughes, widely spread in the English-speaking world, can trace its origin back to Wales. The name is paternal and a variant form of the first name Hugh, which was popular in medieval England. Hugh is derived from the Germanic name 'Hugo', meaning “heart, mind, or spirit.” Therefore, Hughes often stands for 'son of Hugh' or derived from individuals who originally bore the personal name Hugh.

In the Celtic tradition, Hughes was often used as an anglicized form of the Gaelic names Ó hAodha or Mac Aodha, respectively meaning 'descendant of Aodh (Fire)' or 'son of Aodh'.

Today, the surname Hughes is most commonly found in the United States, England, Australia, Ireland, and Wales. Its popularity in Ireland resulted from Hibernicizing the English immigrants' names during the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland in the 12th and 13th centuries. In Scotland, it's usually derived from the Gaelic MacAoidh, meaning 'Son of Hugh'. It still remains one of the most typical last names in Wales, reflecting the continued influence of its Welsh patronymic lineage.

Variations of the surname Hughes

The surname Hughes is of Welsh origin, derived from the old Celtic name "Huw," which means "heart or spirit." Therefore, it is common in places with Welsh ancestry like Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland.

Variants of Hughes include Hughs, Huges, Hugh, Hugo, and Huge. The addition of an 's' at the end typically denotes "son of," meaning Hughes could be translated as "son of Huw."

The Welsh equivalent of Hughes is "Huw" or "Hew." The Irish variant is often "Aodh," while the Scottish variant can be "Eòghann" or "MacHugh," the latter suggesting "son of Hugh."

In some cases, surnames can evolve differently in various regions, leading to a vast range of possible surnames derived from Hughes. Some of such surnames include Huggan, Huggins, O'Hea, Hayes, and even MacKay in Scotland.

Communities that emigrated also anglicized their names, so they may have become Hughes in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Further, it's also found as a French surname, though this is generally Hugues.

It's key to remember spelling variations could be a result of translation from the original Gaelic, transliteration, or due to literacy levels when they were first written down.

Famous people with the name Hughes

• Howard Hughes: American business magnate, investor, aviator, aerospace engineer, inventor, and philanthropist.
• Langston Hughes: American poet, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri.
• Glenn Hughes: English bassist, singer, songwriter, and producer, best known as one of the vocalists and bassist in the rock band Deep Purple.
• Kate Hughes: Australian born former model, television presenter and Miss World runner-up.
• Kayla Hughes: Teenage singer-songwriter and actress.
• Rupert Hughes: American author, movie director and film producer.
• Joseph Hughes: Former National Basketball Association player.
• David Hughes: American entomologist chiefly for his studies of insect flight.
• Blackie Hughes: American Major League Baseball player.
• Harold Hughes: Former governor of Iowa.

Other surnames

HughettHughey