Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Hayes surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Hayes mean?

Hayes is an English and Scottish surname. It is mostly thought to be a locational name, being derived from the Old English 'haes' (brushwood or hedge), given to those who lived at or near this kind of feature. In Scotland, most Hayes' are believed to descend from the Anglo-Norman 'de la Haye' (with the same etymology) and a knight named 'William II de la Haye' is known to have arrived in the country at the time of the Norman Conquest.

Alternative variations of the name Hayes

Hayes, Hays, Hay, Hayse, Hase

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Hayeses.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Hayes family's history

Where do most Hayeses live?

In 1921, most Hayeses lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Hayeses

How common is your surname?

188th most common surname in the UK

We have 189,000 records for the Hayes surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Hayeses most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Williamses

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Hayeses.

What are the most common Hayes first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Hayes family members

Common jobs for Hayeses

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Hayeses in 1921
Dressmaker

745

Laundress

511

Domestic Servant

496

Cotton Weaver

490

Charwoman

411

Common Male occupations for Hayeses in 1921
General Labourer

854

Coal Miner

800

Agricultural Labourer

650

Farm Hands

481

Farm Labourer

417

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 630,000 family trees with the Hayes surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Hayeses.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial