Hugh

Hugh
Pronunciation	/hjuː/ hew
Gender	Male
Language(s)	English
Origin
Meaning	Heart, Mind, Soul
Region of origin	England
Other names
Alternative spelling	Hughes
Nickname(s)	Huey, Hughie, Shug, Shuggie
Related names	Hugues, Hugo, Hubert, Huig, Hauke, Huw, Ugo

Hugh is the English-language variant of the masculine given name Hugues, itself the Old French variant of Hugo, a short form of Continental Germanic given names beginning in the element *hug- "mind, spirit" (Old English hyġe).^[1]

The Germanic name is on record beginning in the 8th century, in variants Chugo, Hugo, Huc, Ucho, Ugu, Uogo, Ogo, Ougo, etc.^[2] The name's popularity in the Middle Ages ultimately derives from its use by Frankish nobility, beginning with Duke of the Franks and Count of Paris Hugh the Great (898–956). The Old French form was adopted into English from the Norman period (e.g. Hugh of Montgomery, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury d. 1098; Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester, d. 1101).

The spelling Hugh in English is from the Picard variant spelling Hughes, where the orthography -gh- takes the role of -gu- in standard French, i.e. to express the phoneme /g/ as opposed to the affricate /ʒ/ taken by the grapheme g before front vowels (as in Italian). The modern English pronunciation /hjuː/ is influenced by the Norman variant form Hue (/hyː/, /yː/), now only a surname, mainly from Normandy.^[3]

The Old High German name Hugo was adopted as third declension nominative into Middle Latin (Hugo, Hugonis); in English, however, historical figures of the continental Middle Ages are conventionally given the name in its modern English spelling, as in Hugh Capet (941–996), Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), Hugh of Cluny (1024–1109), Hugh of Châteauneuf (1053–1132), etc.

Modern variants of the name include German Hugo, Dutch Huig, Frisian Hauke, Welsh Huw, Italian Ugo.

In the tradition of anglicisation of Gaelic names by using similar-sounding, but etymologically unrelated replacements, Hugh also serves as a replacement for Aodh and Ùisdean^[4] (see Hughes (surname), Hughes (given name)).

People with the mononym

Noblemen and clergy

French

Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks
Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II
Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day France
Hugh of Austrasia (7th century), Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia
Hugh I, Count of Angoulême (1183–1249)
Hugh II, Count of Angoulême (1221–1250)
Hugh III, Count of Angoulême (13th century)
Hugh IV, Count of Angoulême (1259–1303)
Hugh, Bishop of Avranches (11th century), France
Hugh I, Count of Blois (died 1248)
Hugh II, Count of Blois (died 1307)
Hugh of Brienne (1240–1296), Count of the medieval French County of Brienne
Hugh, Duke of Burgundy (d. 952)
Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy (1057–1093)
Hugh II, Duke of Burgundy (1084–1143)
Hugh III, Duke of Burgundy (1142–1192)
Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy (1213–1272)
Hugh V, Duke of Burgundy (1294–1315)
Hugh Capet (939–996), King of France
Hugh, Count of Champagne (c. 1074–1125)
Hugh of Châteauneuf (1052–1132), Bishop of Grenoble
Hugh of Cluny (1024–1109), French Abott, later canonized as Saint Hugh the Great
Hugh I of Cyprus (1195–1218)
Hugh II of Cyprus (1253–1267)
Hugh III of Cyprus and Hugh I of Jerusalem (1235–1284)
Hugh IV of Cyprus (1295–1359)
Hugh of Die (1040–1106), French papal legate, and Archbishop of Lyon
Hugh, abbot of Lagny (died 1171), France
Hugh of Lincoln (1140–1200), aka Hugh of Avalon or Hugh of Burgundy
Hugh I of Lusignan (early tenth century)
Hugh II of Lusignan (died 967)
Hugh III of Lusignan (late tenth century)
Hugh IV of Lusignan (died 1026)
Hugh V of Lusignan (died 1060)
Hugh VI of Lusignan (died 1110)
Hugh VII of Lusignan (1065–1151)
Hugh VIII of Lusignan (12th century)
Hugh IX of Lusignan (1163 or 1168 – 1219)
Hugh X of Lusignan (1195–1249)
Hugh XI of Lusignan (1221–1250)
Hugh XII of Lusignan (13th century)
Hugh XIII of Lusignan (1259–1303)
Hugh I, Count of Maine (ruled 900–933)
Hugh II, Count of Maine (ruled 950–992)
Hugh III of Maine (960–1015)
Hugh IV, Count of Maine (died 1051)
Hugh V, Count of Maine (died 1131)
Hugh I, Count of Rethel (1040–1118)
Hugh II, Count of Rethel (died 1227)
Hugh III of Rethel (1227–1242)
Hugh IV, Count of Rethel (1244–1285)
Hugh (abbot of Saint-Quentin) (802–844), France
Hugh, Count of Soissons (died 1305), France
Hugh, Count of Toulouse (died 978), France
Hugh (archbishop of Vienne) (died 1155), France

Anglo-Norman/English

Hugh (Dean of York), first Dean of York
Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester (died 1101)
Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk (1095–1177), second son of Roger Bigod, Sheriff of Norfolk
Hugh de Kevelioc, 3rd Earl of Chester (1147–1181)
Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk (1182–1225), eldest son of Roger Bigod, Sheriff of Norfolk
Hugh le Despencer (justiciar) (1223–1265), Baron le Despencer
Hugh le Despenser (sheriff) (died 1238), High Sheriff of Berkshire
Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester (1261–1326)
Hugh the younger Despenser (1286–1326), son of Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester
Hugh, Baron Dacre of Glanton Trevor-Roper (1914–2003), a British historian
Hugh Percy (disambiguation)
Hugh Seymour (disambiguation)

Gaelic

Hugh of Sleat (died 1498), chieftain of Clan Donald
Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone (1540–1616), Irish chieftain who resisted the annexation of Ireland by Elizabeth I of England
Hugh Roe O'Donnell (1572–1602), Prince of Tyrconnell, led a rebellion against English government in Ireland
Hugh Dubh O'Neill (1611–1660), Irish soldier who commanded the defenders in the Siege of Clonmel and Siege of Limerick
Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron Rathcavan (1883–1982), Ulster Unionist politician who served as Father of the House of Commons

The Gaelic name Aodh/Aedh/Aed is often translated into English as Hugh. Persons sharing this name who traditionally use the Gaelic form are listed below:

Áed Rúad, legendary High king of Ireland
Áed mac Echach (died 575), king of Connacht
Áed Dub mac Suibni (died 588), king of Dál nAraidi
Áed Dibchine (died c.595), king of Leinster
Áed mac Ainmuirech (died 598), High king of Ireland
Áed Sláine (died 604), High king of Ireland
Áed Rón mac Cathail (died 604), king in Leinster
Áed Uaridnach (died 612), High king of Ireland
Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn (died 618), king of or in Munster
Áed Dub mac Colmáin (died 639), bishop of Kildare
Áed Aired (died 698), king of Dál nAraide
Áed Róin (died 735), king of Dál Fiatach
Áed mac Colggen (died 738), king of Leinster
Áed Balb mac Indrechtaig (died 742), king of Connacht
Áed Muinderg (died 747), king of northern Uí Néill
Áed Find (died 778), king of Dál Riata
Áed Oirdnide (died 819), king of Ailech
Áed mac Boanta (died 839), probably king in Dál Riata
Áed of Scotland (died 878), king of the Picts
Áed Findliath (died 879), king of Ailech
Áed Ua Crimthainn (mid 12th century), abbot of Terryglass
Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair (13th century), king of Connacht
Aedh Muimhnech mac Felim Ua Conchobair (13th century), king of Connacht
Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (13th century), king of Connacht
Aedh mac Aedh Breifneach Ua Conchobair (14th century)
Aodh, Earl of Ross (died 1333)

Other people

Hugh of Arles or Hugh of Provence (10th century), King of Italy
Hugh, Margrave of Tuscany aka Hugo or Ugo (950–1001), Italy
Hugh, Count of Suio (1023–1040), Count of Suio in the Duchy of Gaeta, Italy
Hugh of Saint Victor (1078–1141), Saxon noble and mystic philosopher
Hugh of Ibelin (12th century), noble in the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Hugh of Jabala (12th century), bishop of Jabala, Syria
Hugh (archbishop of Edessa) (died 1144), Upper Mesopotamia
Hugh (archbishop of Palermo) (died c. 1165/6)

People with the given name

Hugh Alan Anderson (1933–2015), Canadian politician
Hugh D. Auchincloss (1897–1976), American stockbroker and lawyer, stepfather of Gore Vidal and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Hugh Beaumont (1910–1982), American Actor
Hugh M. Bland (1898–1967), Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
Hugh Bonneville (born 1963), English actor
Hugh Carey (1919–2011), American politician and attorney of the Democratic Party
Hugh Cornwell (born 1949), English musician, guitarist
Hugh Dancy (born 1975), English actor
Hugh Dane (1942–2018), American actor
Hugh Edmund Peter de Mel (1907–1992), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician
Hugh Downs (1921–2020), American broadcaster and announcer
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (born 1965), English chef, broadcaster and campaigner
Warnakulasuriya Ichchampullige Hugh Fernando (1916–1993), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician
Hugh Norman Gregory Fernando (1910–1976), Chief Justice of Sri Lanka from 1966–1973
Hughie Gallacher (1903–1957), Scottish footballer
Hugh Glass (1783–1833), American frontiersman
Hugh Grant (born 1960), English actor
Hugh Griffith (1912–1980), Welsh actor
Hugh Hefner (1926–2017), American adult magazine publisher
Hugh Herbert (1885–1952), American motion picture comedian
Hugh Herdon (1871–1958), British Indian Army officer
Hugh Hopper (1945–2009), English musician, bassist
Hugh Jackman (born 1968), Australian actor
Hugh Lane (1875–1915), Irish art collector
Hugh Laurie (born 1959), English actor
Hugh McDowell (1953–2018), English cellist, member of Electric Light Orchestra
Hugh McElhenny (1928–2022), American football (gridiron) player
Hugh Mercer (1726–1777), Scottish-born American military officer
Hugh O'Brian (1925–2016), American actor
Hugh Paddick (1915–2000), English actor
Hugh Robertson (basketball) (born 1989), American basketball player
Hugh Fred Rupasinghe (1931-2019), Sri Lanka Army officer, commander of Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna
Hugh Segal (1950-2023), Canadian senator
Hugh Thornton (American football) (born 1991), American football player
Hugh Walpole (1884–1941), English novelist
Hugh E. Wright (1879–1940), French-English actor

Fictional characters

Hugh (Kiba)
Hugh (Star Trek)
Hugh "Wee Hughie" Campbell, a The Boys character
- Hugh Campbell, Sr., Hughie's father
Hugh Neutron, a Jimmy Neutron character

References

^ Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia (2006). Hardcastle, Kate (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of Names (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1.
^ E. Förstemann, Altdeutsches Namenbuch (1856), 750.
^ Site of "Géopatronym" : repartition of the births with the surname "Hue" until 1915 in the 5 Norman "départements" Seine-Maritime (76), Calvados (14), Manche (50), Eure (27) and Orne (61)
^ Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia (2003), A Dictionary of First Names (epub), Oxford University Press, ISBN 0198606052

This page or section lists people that share the same given name.
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[Oxford-1] Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia (2006). Hardcastle, Kate (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of Names (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1.

[2] E. Förstemann, Altdeutsches Namenbuch (1856), 750.

[3] Site of "Géopatronym" : repartition of the births with the surname "Hue" until 1915 in the 5 Norman "départements" Seine-Maritime (76), Calvados (14), Manche (50), Eure (27) and Orne (61)

[4] Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia (2003), A Dictionary of First Names (epub), Oxford University Press, ISBN 0198606052

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