Hughes Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Hughes Family History

Hughes Family History

The Hughes ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'descendant of Hugh', Hughes is a baptismal name of great antiquity. Variants include Hugh, Hayes and O'Hae. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. Examples of such are an Edde Hugh who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England, in the year 1273 and a William, son of Hugh, who was Burgess of Aberdeen, Scotland, in the year 1189. A John Hughe, County Somerset, was recorded in 'Kirby's Quest' in the reign of Edward III. A Richard Hewes was recorded in the 'Valor Ecclesiasticus' in the thirteenth century. In Ireland this name is an anglicized form of the Gaelic O'hAodha sept name that was more often changed to Hayes. One sept of the name was located in the western part of Cork but the most powerful was a Dalcassian sept of Thomond, now chiefly associated with Counties Limerick and Tipperary. As Hughes the name is mostly found in Ulster Province. The Hughes family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Hughes descendants.