McHugh is a common surname of Irish origin. It is an anglicisation of the original Irish ''Mac Aodha'', meaning literally "Son of Aodh". Aodh was a popular male given name in mediaeval Gaelic Ireland. It was traditionally written in English-language documents as

Hugh Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) 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 ...

, an unrelated name of Frankish origin. The first bearers of the surname were the grandsons of Aodh (died 1033), who was son of

Ruaidhrí mac Coscraigh Ruaidhrí mac Coscraigh was King of South Connacht and of Uí Briúin and a third great-grandson of the eponym of Clann Cosgraigh. Ruaidhri is mentioned in the ''Annals of Inisfallen'' and Tigernach as well as the ''Leabhar na nGenealach''. Ruai ...

, King of South Connacht. The surname's pronunciation in Irish has also given rise to the spelling McGagh (otherwise McGah or McGarr), forms of the surname which are geographically concentrated around the area of Belclare parish in

County Galway "Righteousness and Justice" , anthem = () , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Galway.svg , map_caption = Location in Ireland , area_footnotes = , area_total_km2 = ...

, the centre of the

Clann Cosgraigh Clann Cosgraigh or Clann Coscraig was a branch of the Uí Briúin Seóla dynasty and also the name of the district on the eastern side of Lough Corrib, County Galway which they inhabited and ruled prior to the Norman invasion. Its chiefs wer ...

territory ruled by the historical McHughs. Other anglicised versions of the surname include Hughes and Hewson. Notable people bearing this surname include: *

Bob McHugh (musician) Bob McHugh (born Robert Ernest McHugh; July 20, 1946 in Kearny, New Jersey) is an American jazz pianist, composer and educator. He has recorded for Outstanding Records, Alliance Records, Perception Records and Lunge Music. He has performed with ...

, American pianist and composer * Bob McHugh (footballer) (born 1991), Scottish footballer * Brendan McHugh (born 1990), American swimmer *

Charles McHugh (actor) Charles McHugh (1870–1931) was an American film actor of the silent era. He frequently played Irish characters in a mixture of comedies and westerns.Katchmer p.251 Selected filmography * '' Down to Earth'' (1917) * '' The Goat'' (1918) * '' Fa ...

(1870-1931), American actor * Chris McHugh (born 1964), drummer of Christian rock band White Heart * Collin McHugh (born 1987), American baseball player * Edward McHugh (trade unionist) (1853-1915), Irish Georgist (land reformer), trade unionist, Labour activist and social reformer *

Edward McHugh (politician) Edward J McHugh (1846 – 28 August 1900), also known as Edward M'Hugh, was an Irish nationalist politician. He was an Anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation Member of Parliament (MP) for South Armagh from 1892 until his death. The director a ...

(1846-1900), Irish nationalist politician, an anti-Parnellite Member of Parliament for South Armagh, 1892–1900 *

Edward McHugh (artist) Edward McHugh (born 1969) is an American artist from Philadelphia whose work includes photography and sculpture. Education and work McHugh trained as a painter, printmaker, and sculptor, graduating from the Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia i ...

(born 1969), Philadelphia artist *

Ed McHugh Ed "Ebby" McHugh (June 9, 1930 – October 2, 2016) was a U.S. soccer player who was a member of the 1952 Summer Olympics. He also played for St. Louis Simpkins-Ford St. Louis Simpkins-Ford ''(also known as Simpkins)'' was a U.S. amateur soc ...

(born 1930), American soccer player *

Eoin McHugh Eoin McHugh (born 1994/5) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Cill Chartha and the Donegal county team. He is the only son of James McHugh, a member of the team that defeated Dublin in the 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championshi ...

(born 1994/5), Irish Gaelic footballer * Francis McHugh (1925-2018), Yorkshire-born Gloucestershire cricketer with the lowest batting average of any regular first-class player * Frank McHugh (1898-1981), American film and television actor *

Frazer McHugh Frazer McHugh (born 14 July 1981) is an English professional footballer who last played for Gedling Town in the East Midlands Counties Football League, where he plays as a midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in associatio ...

(born 1981), English footballer *

Gerry McHugh Gerry McHugh (born 9 October 1957) is a republican politician in Northern Ireland. He represented Sinn Féin on Fermanagh District Council from 1993 to 2007 sat as an independent since then. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996, ...

(born 1957), nationalist politician in Northern Ireland * Godfrey McHugh (1911-1997), US Air Force general and aide to President John F. Kennedy * Heather McHugh (born 1948), American poet *

James M. McHugh James Marshall McHugh (27 December 1899 – 7 November 1966) was an American intelligence officer in China. McHugh was born in Nevada, Missouri''Washington, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1965'' and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1922. F ...

(born 1922), United States Marine Corps officer * James T. McHugh (1932-2000), third bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre * Jason McHugh (born 1968), American television producer and actor * Jeannette McHugh (born 1934), Australian politician * Jimmy McHugh (1894-1969), American composer * Joe McHugh (born 1971), Irish Fine Gael politician *

John M. McHugh John Michael McHugh (born September 29, 1948) is an American politician from the U.S. state of New York who served as the 21st United States Secretary of the Army, and represented the state's 23rd congressional district in the United States Hou ...

(born 1948), Irish-American politician * John McHugh (tenor) (1912-2004), British opera singer * Kevin McHugh (born 1980), Irish footballer *

Kitty McHugh Kitty McHugh (born Katherine McHugh; October 3, 1902 – September 3, 1954) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 50 films between 1934 and 1953. Early years McHugh was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed McHugh. She had three brother ...

(1902-1954), American actress *

Lia McHugh Lia Ryan McHugh (born November 2005) is an American actress. She has roles in ''Totem (film), Totem'' (2017), ''The Lodge (film), The Lodge'', and ''Into the Dark (TV series), Into the Dark'' (both 2019). She portrayed Sprite (Marvel Cinematic U ...

, American actress * Malachy McHugh (died 1348), canon and Bishop of Elphin and Archbishop of Tuam (1313-1348) *

Mark McHugh Mark McHugh (born 22 August 1990) is an Irish Gaelic footballer and coach who plays for Cill Chartha and, formerly, the Donegal county team. He is the brother of Ryan and the son of Martin. He won one All-Ireland Senior Football Championshi ...

(born 1990), Irish Gaelic footballer * Matt McHugh (1894-1971), American actor *

Matthew F. McHugh Matthew Francis "Matt" McHugh (born December 6, 1938) is an American lawyer and former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York, serving from 1975 to 1993. Biography Early life and education McHugh was born ...

(born 1938), politician and US Congressman *

Maureen F. McHugh Maureen F. McHugh (born February 13, 1959) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. Career McHugh's first published story was published as a ''Twilight Zone'' under a male pseudonym in 1988. It was followed by a pair of publication ...

(born 1959), American science fiction and fantasy writer *

Michael McHugh Michael Hudson McHugh (born 1 November 1935) is a former justice of the High Court of Australia; the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy. Early years The son of a miner and steelworker, McHugh left school at 15 despite excelling ...

(born 1935), justice of the High Court of Australia *

Mike McHugh Michael McHugh (born August 16, 1965) is an American former ice hockey left wing. He played 20 games in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks from 1988 to 1991. The rest of his career, which lasted from 19 ...

(born 1965), National Hockey League left wing *

Paddy McHugh Patrick McHugh (born 23 January 1953) is a former Irish politician. He was an Independent Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency. McHugh was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election, getting a 15.8% share of the vot ...

(born 1953), Irish independent politician *

Paul McHugh (legal scholar) Paul McHugh (born Gisborne) is a New Zealand academic lawyer. He teaches at the University of Cambridge where he is a Professor in Law and Legal History and Fellow of Sidney Sussex College.Paul R. McHugh Paul Rodney McHugh (born May 21, 1931) is an American psychiatrist, researcher, and educator. He is currently the University Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the author, co-autho ...

(born 1931), Massachusetts psychiatrist, educator, author * Ryan McHugh (born 1994), Irish Gaelic footballer *

Sean McHugh Sean Thomas McHugh (born May 27, 1982) is a former American football tight end. He last played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL), winning Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals. Early years McHugh played ...

(born 1982), American football tight end *

Siobhán McHugh Siobhán McHugh is an Irish-Australian author, podcast producer and critic, oral historian, audio documentary-maker and journalism academic. In 2013 she founded ''RadioDoc Review'', the first journal of critical analysis of crafted audio storytelli ...

, Irish-Australian author, podcaster and documentary filmmaker *

Terry McHugh Terry McHugh (born 22 August 1963) is a retired Irish track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. His personal best of 82.75 m, set in 2000, is the Irish record. He won twenty-one consecutive Irish Championships from 1984 to 20 ...

(born 1963), Irish javelin thrower *

Thomas J. McHugh Thomas J. McHugh (December 23, 1919 – February 1, 2000) was a United States Marine who served as the 3rd Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from June 29, 1962, to July 16, 1965. Early life Thomas McHugh was born in New York City, the son of the ...

(1919-2000), recipient of the Purple Heart medal Fictional characters with this surname include: * Benji McHugh, in the UK soap opera ''Family Affairs'' *

Nathan McHugh ''Flight 29 Down'' is an American adventure comedy-drama television series about a group of teenagers who are stranded on an island. It was produced by Discovery Kids. The show was created by Stan Rogow (''Lizzie McGuire'', ''Darcy's Wild Life'') ...

, in the American television series ''Flight 29 Down''

References

{{surname, McHugh Given names Surnames Surnames of Irish origin Surnames of English origin Surnames of British Isles origin Anglicised Irish-language surnames English-language surnames

See also

References