Hughes
A common Welsh and English surname meaning “son of Hugh.”
The #90 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 1,307 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hughes comes from the medieval personal name Hugh, ultimately from Old Germanic roots meaning “mind,” “heart,” or “spirit.” In English and Welsh use, the surname developed as a patronymic: literally “Hugh’s” or “son of Hugh.” The form was reinforced by Anglo-Norman naming practices, since Hugh was a very common Christian name after the Norman period.
History
Bardsley notes that Hughes became especially common in Wales, alongside related forms such as ap-Hugh, which show the same patronymic idea in Welsh naming. Lower also treats Hughes plainly as a derivative of Hugh, and related surnames such as Hughson, Huggins, and Higgins belong to the same name family. Today Hughes is one of the most widespread surnames in Wales and remains common in English-speaking countries, including the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In Welsh records, Hughes often sits alongside forms like ap Hugh and Pugh, both reflecting the older custom of building surnames from a father’s given name.
From the historical record
“under the respective names. HUGHES. From Hugh, the personal name. See Hugo. HUGHMAN. See Human. HUGHSON. The sou of Hugh. HUGO. The A.-Norm. Christian name, whence Huggins, Higgins, Huggett, &c. It is very common in Domesday. See Hugh. HUISH. Parishes in cos. Devon and Somerset. HULL. O. Eng. A hill; but perhaps”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom