Hughley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the Hughley family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Hughley came from the Old English given name Huwelet, Huwelot, or Hughelot. Nonetheless, the name is also a diminutive of the Old French personal name Hugh, or Hughe, which was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The personal name Hugh is a short form of various Germanic compound names formed from the element hug, which meant heart, mind, and spirit. 1

Early Origins of the Hughley family

The surname Hughley was first found in Norfolk where Agnes Hughelot was recorded c. 1248. A few years later, Thomas Huwelot was listed in Huntingdonshire c. 1250 and later again, Richard Hulot was recorded in Suffolk in 1275. Walter Howlot, Hughlot was found in Devon in 1310 and 1311 and John Huelot was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcester in 1327. In Yorkshire, John Highlot was listed there in 1357 and Robert Hulat was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1381. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: William Huwelot, Huntingdonshire; Walter Huwelot, Oxfordshire; Walter Hughelot, Kent; and John Huelot, Cambridgeshire. 3

In Somerset, Thomas Hughelot, was listed there, 1 Edward III (in the first years of King Edward III's reign.) 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Johannes Hughlot. 3

The famed, William Redington Hewlett (1913-2001), the American engineer and co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, who was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Early History of the Hughley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hughley research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1619, 1627, 1638, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1692, 1704, 1710 and 1747 are included under the topic Early Hughley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hughley Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Hewlett, Hewlet, Hewlit, Hewlitt, Hughelot, Hughelett and many more.

Early Notables of the Hughley family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Captain William Hewlett, the officer in charge of the soldiers at the execution of Charles I. He was later convicted on 15 October 1660 for his part in the regicide but was not executed.Ebenezer Hewlett (fl. 1747), was an antitrinitarian writer who lived at the New Pales in Sun Street, without Bishopsgate, London, and was for a time employed by the East India Company. 5Lady Sarah Hewley (1627-1710), was the English foundress of the Hewley trust, the only daughter and heiress of Robert Wolrych (d. 11 Dec. 1661), bencher...
Another 97 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hughley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hughley Ranking

In the United States, the name Hughley is the 11,363^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Hughley family to Ireland

Some of the Hughley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hughley family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hughley or a variant listed above: Mathew Hewlett, who settled in Boston in 1634; Elizabeth and John Hewlett settled in Maryland in 1774; Archibald Hewlet arrived in Philadelphia in 1858..

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/