ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hughes

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈhjuz// hugh·es

n. a common family name in English-speaking countries, especially in Wales and Ireland. It comes from an old name meaning heart or mind.

n. a common surname of Welsh and Irish origin, derived from the Old French given name 'Huë' or the Old German 'Hugo'.


SIMPLE

The local library is named after a man called Hughes.

CONTEXTUAL

Several famous poets and writers share the surname Hughes, making it a well-known name in English literature.

COMPLEX

While the name Hughes is ubiquitous across the British Isles, its highest density remains in North Wales where it originated as a patronymic meaning son of Hugh.

Usage

As a proper noun, it is capitalized; when referring to a family as a group, it takes the definite article and a plural ending ('the Hugheses').

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