Surname Hughs - Meaning and Origin
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Hughs: What does the surname Hughs mean?
The last name Hughs is a variant of the Welsh surname Hughes, derived from the old Celtic name "Huw", meaning "heart" or "spirit". Typically, it is patronymic in nature, indicating "son of Hugh". The name Hugh was highly popular among the Normans and was brought by them to England during the Norman conquest in the 11th century. It later spread to Wales and other parts of the British Isles. Thus, the last name Hughs can trace its roots back to Anglo-Saxon and Celtic origins. The original bearers of this surname were respected for their strength of spirit, an implication from its etymological origin. Being an ancient name, there are several variations and spellings observed globally today. It is important to note that the meanings and origins of surnames can evolve over centuries and they may carry different interpretations in different cultures and languages.
Order DNA origin analysisHughs: Where does the name Hughs come from?
The surname Hughs is a patronymic form of the personal name Hugh, which comes from the Germanic name Hugo. Hugh means "heart," "mind," or "spirit." The surname Hughs is prevalent in England and Wales, and is also found in Ireland. It was first found in Carmarthenshire, located in Southwest Wales, United Kingdom.
The variation of the surname Hughs include Hughes, Hughs, Hues, Huse and others. After the Norman Conquest of England and Wales in the 11th century, the name became popular in England and started to be used as a surname. Many Welsh people carry this surname as it was adopted by Welsh speakers for its phonetic similarity to the Welsh word for higher or above.
Today, the surname Hughs is most common in the United States, England, Australia, South Africa, and Canada. Despite its origins in Wales, the name isn’t as prevalent there today. In the United States, it is most common in the southern states, likely due to historical Welsh immigration to that region.
Variations of the surname Hughs
The surname Hughs may have alternate forms, spellings, and surnames of the same or similar origin. Some possible variations are Hughes, Huges, Hugh, Hugo, and Hughe. The most common alternate form is Hughes, which has the same origin and meaning. Hughes is most frequently seen in Ireland and Wales, coming from the old Welsh names Hughe or Huw, which mean heart or spirit.
It's also interesting to note that the Germanic equivalent of Hughs would be Hugo or Hughes, as "hug" translates to heart, mind, or spirit in Old German. Hughes is also found in France and England, further reflecting its Celtic, Germanic, and Norman origins.
In Ireland, Hughs could be a variant of the Gaelic Ó hAodha, which has been Anglicized as Hayes. In Scotland, it became Hewes, Hewis, Hewison or simply Hew, which can sometimes be found in the form Hughson and Hutcheon.
Further variations can occur due to phonetic translations when families immigrated to English-speaking countries, resulting in different spellings. Names can evolve or change over time due to regional accents and pronunciations, which is why there are so many variations of the name Hughs.
Famous people with the name Hughs
- Hugh Jackman: Hugh Jackman is an award-winning actor, producer, and musician known for his role in films such as the X-Men series, Les Miserables, and The Greatest Showman.
- Howard Hughes: Howard Hughes was an American business magnate, investor, record-setting aviator, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world.
- Langston Hughes: Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist known for his insightful and imaginative style. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form known as jazz poetry.
- David Hughes: David Hughes is a Welsh actor who has appeared in musicals such as Evita, Mary Poppins, and Beauty and the Beast, and TV shows such as Coronation Street and EastEnders.
- John Hughes: John Hughes was a prolific writer and director behind some of the greatest films of the 80s such as The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
- Joshua Hughes: Joshua Hughes is an American actor and former professional football player.
- Stephen Hughes: Stephen Hughes is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
- Charles Evans Hughes: Charles Evans Hughes was an American statesman and lawyer who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and the 30th Governor of New York.
- John Hughes: John Hughes was an Australian political leader, most notably serving as Premier of South Australia twice, from 1933 to 1938, and again from 1941 to 1943.
- Frank Hughes: Frank Hughes was an American Major League Baseball player who played for nearly 20 years, from 1891 to 1910.