Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Hugh” come from?

Hugh (English) comes from Old French Hughe, from Proto-Germanic hugiz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱk-í-s ~ ḱk-éy-s, from Proto-Indo-European ḱek- — to be able, capable.

Ancestry of “Hugh”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrenchHughe—
2Proto-Germanichugizmind, thought, sense, understanding
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱk-í-s ~ ḱk-éy-s—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱek-to be able, capable

Words derived from “Hugh”

  • Fitzhugh
  • McHugh
  • Hughie
  • Hewson
  • Howson
  • Hughson
  • Hulett
  • Hooson
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱek- →