Contents [hide]

Hughes History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Hughes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Ireland
Wales

Etymology of Hughes

What does the name Hughes mean?

The surname Hughes is a name whose history dates far back into the mists of Medieval France to a region once known as Brittany (French: Bretagne). It is a name for the Germanic personal name Hugo, which itself comes from the Old German word "hug," which means "intelligence."

Early Origins of the Hughes family

The surname Hughes was first found in Languedoc, where the family has held a family seat since very early times.

Throughout the centuries this ancient family expanded, developed, and grew in size and influence. By the 17th century the family was well established in the region of Languedoc and several members of this well known family were distinctive in their contribution toward the community in which they lived and were rewarded with lands, titles and letters patent confirming their nobility. Descending from the original line of Languedoc was Noble Guillaume Hugues, who as rewarded for his large contribution in the religious affairs of the region was elevated to Archbishop of Embrun in 1612.

Along with the event of their time, members of this celebrated family pursued their belief with strong conviction for their King, crown and country and served as Gentlemen of the Chamber and Advisors of the King. The family of Languedoc knew further development and in 1695 the head of the family branch of Aix was elected Mayor. This esteemed family also had members who were responsible for the business matters of the region of Provence.

Early History of the Hughes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hughes research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1090 is included under the topic Early Hughes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hughes Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of French surnames; in part, as spelling, and the spelling names was not yet standardized during the early development of the written French language. Later, there was much branching and movement of families, and spellings would change according to region. Variations of the name Hughes include Hugues, de Hugues, Hughues, Hougues, Houghues, Ugues, Huggues and many more.

Early Notables of the Hughes family

More information is included under the topic Early Hughes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hughes World Ranking

the United States, the name Hughes is the 88^th most popular surname with an estimated 228,804 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Hughes is ranked the 165^th most popular surname with an estimated 21,019 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Hughes is the 59^th popular surname with an estimated 36,247 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Hughes as 60^th with 5,033 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Hughes as 16^th with 129,681 people. 5

Hughes migration to the United States +

French settlers came early to North American, following in the wake of the explorers, and creating New France. Quebec City, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain is said to have been the first American site founded as a permanent settlement, rather than as just a commercial outpost. But emigration was slow, in 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 French people in Quebec, and by 1663, when the region was officially made The Royal Colony of New France, by Louis XIV, there still only around 500 settlers. Over 2,000 would arrive during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. Youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted immigrants, both noble and commoner from France. By 1675, there were around 7000 French in the colony, and by that same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Despite the loss of the Colony to England, the French people flourished in Lower Canada. Among settlers to North America of the Hughes surname were

Hughes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Hughes, aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo
Joshua Hughes, who landed in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1634 7
Mr. Charles Hughes, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Constance" arriving in Virginia in 1635 8
Mr. Edward Hughes, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Alice" 9
Mr. Richard Hughes, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "Paul" in 1635 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hughes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Valentine Hughes, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 7
Richard Hughes, who settled in Georgia with his wife and five sons in 1733
Joseph Hughes, who landed in Georgia in 1738 7
Lucy Hughes, who arrived in Maryland in 1740 7
Thomas Hughes, who settled in Georgia in 1744
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hughes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew Hughes, aged 35, who landed in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1805 7
Jane Hughes, who landed in America in 1805 7
Lawrence Hughes, who landed in America in 1809 7
James Hughes, who landed in New Jersey in 1811 7
Herman Hughes, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1812 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hughes Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Henry P Hughes, who landed in Arkansas in 1900 7
Mr. Arthur Jordan Hughes, (b. 1870), aged 34, Canadian private secretary from Padstow, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Carpathia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th July 1904 en route to Toronto, Ontario, USA 11
Mrs. Adele Hughes, (b. 1884), aged 21, Cornish settler from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 2nd April 1905 en route to New York, USA 11

Hughes migration to Canada +

Hughes Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Heny Hughes, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Stephen Hughes, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. Charles Hughes U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 214 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York 12
Mr. James Hughes U.E. who settled in Marysburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1784 12
Mr. John Hughes U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hughes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Matthew Hughes, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
Ellis Hughes, who arrived in Canada in 1828
Joel Hughes, who arrived in Canada in 1831
John Hughes, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833
Ellen Hughes, aged 30, a widow, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hughes migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Mr. Robert Hughes, (1764 - 1760), British settler convicted in Shrewsbury (Salop), England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Guardian" leaving in 1789 she struck an iceberg in 1789 and was turned back to Cape Town, Africafinally arriving in New South Wales in 1790 6
Mr. William Hughes, Welsh settler convicted at Flint, Flinshire in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7
Mr. John Hughes, (1761 - 1840), aged 28, Irish settler convicted at Cheshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for felony, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7
Mr. Thomas Hughes, British settler convicted at Buckinghamshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7
Mr. Thomas Hughes, British settler convicted at Warwickshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7

Second Fleet

Mr. Edward Hughes, British settler convicted in Kent, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7
Mr. James Hughes, British settler convicted in Herefordshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Atlantic" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7
Mr. John Hughes, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7
Mr. Richard Hughes, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "William and Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7
Mr. Elizabeth Hughes, British settler convicted in Warwickshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the ship "Mary Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7

Third Fleet

Mr. Hugh Hughes, (b. 1761), aged 26, English settler convicted in Southwark, London on 16th February 1785, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 7
Mr. John Hughes, (b. 1766), aged 21, English labourer convicted in Maidstone, Kent on 15th March 1784, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 7
Mr. Thomas Hughes, (b. 1762), aged 25, English settler convicted in London on 20th February 1783, sentenced for 7 years for stealing animals, transported aboard the ship "Friendship" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 7
Miss Frances Ann Hughes, (b. 1755), aged 32, English settler convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire on 26th March 1787, sentenced for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 7
Mr. William Hughes, British drummer on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMS Sirius" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Hughes Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Mathew Hughes, (Mathias), (b. 1770), aged 28, Irish soldier who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for life for murder, transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1845 13

Hughes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Alice Hughes, (b. 1787), aged 26, Irish convict who was convicted in Armagh, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Thomas Hughes, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. Benjamin Hughes, English labourer who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. John Hughes, (b. 1781), aged 35, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. Hugh Hughes, (Davis, John), British Convict who was convicted in Chester Quarter Sessions for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hughes migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hughes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Arthur Hughes, Australian settler travelling from Port of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia on board the ship "David Owen" arriving in New Zealand in 1832 19
John Hughes, who landed in Moriaki, New Zealand in 1840
Stephen Edward Hughes, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
William Hughes, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
William Hughes, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Whitby" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hughes migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 20

Hughes Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. John Hughes, (b. 1614), aged 20, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 7
Mr. Lewes Hughes, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 21
Richard Hughes, who settled in Barbados in 1654
Lewes Hughes, who settled in Barbados in 1654-1661
Richard Hughes, who settled in Barbados in 1654-1663

Contemporary Notables of the name Hughes (post 1700) +

Kim Galen Hughes (1952-2025), American basketball player and coach, professional basketball in the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association with the New York / New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks (1975-1981), served as the interim head coach for the Los Angeles Clippers for 33 games in 2010
Kathleen Hughes (1928-2025), born Elizabeth Margaret von Gerkan, an American actress who appeared during the Golden Age of Hollywood, best known for her co-starring role with Edward G. Robinson in a 1953 crime drama, The Glass Web
Robert Hughes Sr. (1928-2024), American high school basketball coach
Leon Hughes Sr. (1930-2023), American rhythm and blues singer, the last surviving original member of The Coasters
Thomas Lowe Hughes (1925-2023), American government official, Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (1963-1969)
Robert John Hughes (1930-2022), British-born American journalist, a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of Indonesia and the Overseas Press Club Award for an investigation into the international narcotics traffic, editor of The Christian Science Monitor and The Deseret News and is a former president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors
Dorothy Pitman Hughes (b. 1938), née Ridley, an American feminist, child-welfare advocate, activist, public speaker, author, and small business owner
Bradley Wayne Hughes (1933-2021), American billionaire businessman, the founder and chairman of Public Storage, the largest self-storage company in the U.S. doing business as a REIT or real estate investment trust
Eugene M. Hughes (1934-2021), American educator, President of Northern Arizona University from 1979 to 1993 and President of Wichita State University from 1993 to 1998
... (Another 346 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hughes family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Steven William Hughes (1947-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Bucklands Beach, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 22
Mr. Charles W Hughes (1965-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Cleburne, Texas, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 23
Mr. Frank J Hughes (1955-1985), American Staff Sergeant from North Carrollton, Alabama, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 24
John Hughes (1921-1985), from Bradford who attended the Bradford City and Lincoln City Third Division match on 11th May 1985 when the Bradford City stadium fire occurred and he died in the fire
Thomas Stanley "Stan" Hughes (d. 1943), Australian Seaman who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
... (Another 49 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550