Hughes Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Hughes mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Hughes name
Hughes is a patronymic from the personal name Hugh, from Germanic hug, "heart, mind". It is especially common in Wales, where patronymic surnames were fixed late. In Ireland it was also used to anglicise Ó hAodha, "descendant of Aodh", making it frequent in Ulster and the midlands.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Hughes name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Hughes name in Wales. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Ireland, the United States and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Hughes name FAQ
What does the Hughes name mean?
Son of Hugh. Common variants include Hughs, Hewes, Pugh.
Where does the Hughes surname come from?
It originates in Wales, and is also found in Ireland, the United States and Australia.
Is there a Hughes coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Hughes crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Hughes coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).