Pugh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

Etymology of Pugh

What does the name Pugh mean?

The Welsh name Pugh is a patronymic surname created from the Welsh personal name Hugh. The original Welsh form of this forename was Huw, but the English form of the name was adopted by the upper-class Welsh during the 17th century. The surname Pugh was originally ap-Hugh: the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ap," means "son of," but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time.

Early Origins of the Pugh family

The surname Pugh was first found in Montgomeryshire (Welsh: Sir Drefaldwyn), located in mid-Eastern Wales, one of thirteen historic counties, and anciently the medieval kingdom of Powys Wenwynwyn, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Pugh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pugh research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1609, 1610, 1656, 1678, 1679, 1686, 1709, 1718, 1721, 1758, 1760, 1765, 1766 and 1788 are included under the topic Early Pugh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pugh Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Pugh name over the years has been spelled Pugh, Pew and others.

Early Notables of the Pugh family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Robert Pugh (1610-1679), a Welsh Jesuit priest and controversialist. Ellis Pugh (1656-1718) was a Welsh Quaker, born in the parish of Dolgelly in June 1656. In 1686 he and his family sailed for the Qu...
Robert Pugh (1609-1679) was a Welsh Roman Catholic controversialist, born at Penrhyn in the parish of Eglwys-Ross, Carnarvonshire. During the "popish plot" panic of 1678 Pugh was committed to Newgate...
Philip Pugh (1679-1760) was a dissenting minister, was born at Hendref, Blaenpenal, Cardiganshire. He inherited a good estate. He was trained for the independent ministry at the nonconformist college...

Pugh Ranking

In the United States, the name Pugh is the 704^th most popular surname with an estimated 42,279 people with that name. 1 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Pugh is ranked the 363^rd most popular surname with an estimated 17,256 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Pugh family to Ireland

Some of the Pugh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pugh migration to the United States +

Many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Pugh:

Pugh Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

David Pugh, who arrived in Virginia in 1608
James Pugh, who settled in Virginia in 1654
Francis Pugh, who landed in Virginia in 1665 3
James Pugh, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1684 3
David Pugh, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1693 3

Pugh Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Pugh settled with her husband in Virginia in 1701
Daniel Pugh, who landed in Virginia in 1711 3
Mary and Sarah Pugh, who arrived in Virginia in 1741
Arabella Pugh, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 3

Pugh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Pugh, aged 22, who landed in New York in 1812 3
Miss Mary Pugh, aged 20, British settler who arrived in New Orleans aboard the ship "Hanover" on 2nd May 1842
Richard F Pugh, aged 50, who arrived in Missouri in 1847 3
T Pugh, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 3
Joseph Pugh, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pugh migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pugh Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Catherine Pugh, aged 10 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Free Trader" departing from the port of Free Trader, Liverpool but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 4

Pugh migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Pugh Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Ann Pugh, British Convict who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Samuel Pugh, British Convict who was convicted in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
Mr. Joseph Pugh, (Thompson), British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 20th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. John Pugh, Welsh convict who was convicted in New Radnor (Radnor), Powys, Wales for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 1st October 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Mr. David Pugh, British convict who was convicted in Buckinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pugh 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:

Pugh Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Pugh, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Spray of the Ocean" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st September 1859 10
Mr. John Pugh, (b. 1841), aged 23, British baker travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Pugh (post 1700) +

Jamin "Jay" Pugh (1984-2023), American professional wrestler, known by his ring name, Jay Briscoe, best known for his time with Ring of Honor, where at the time of his death he was one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions with his brother Mark Briscoe
George Ellis Pugh (1822-1876), American Democratic politician from Ohio
Lawrence "Larry" Pugh (1933-2015), American businessman, chief executive officer of the VF Corporation
Isaac C. Pugh (1805-1874), Union general in the American Civil War
Daniel Patrick "Dan Patrick" Pugh (b. 1956), American sportscaster, radio personality, and actor who hosts The Dan Patrick Show broadcast on radio
Jim Pugh (b. 1964), American professional tennis, doubles, player
James Edward Pugh (b. 1950), American trombonist, composer, and educator
Virginia Wynette Pugh (1942-1998), American country music singer-songwriter, known professionally as Tammy Wynette
James Lawrence Pugh (1820-1907), American politician, U.S. senator from Alabama
John Pugh (1761-1842), American soldier and politician, who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Pugh family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. A Pugh, British Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 12

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)

William Pugh (1932-1988), American Businessman from Margate, New Jersey, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 13

RMS Titanic

Mr. Alfred Pugh, aged 20, English Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 14 14
Mr. Arthur Percy Pugh (d. 1912), aged 31, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 14

USS Arizona

Mr. John Pugh Jr., American Shipfitter Third Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 15

Winter Quarters coal mine

Mr. William Pugh (b. 1855), Welsh mine worker from Glamorganshire, Wales residing in Scofield, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 16
Mr. Tom Pugh (b. 1886), Welsh mine worker who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he survived after by running for fresh air 16

The Pugh Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sic itur ad astra
Motto Translation: Such is the way to immortality.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 51)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html