Surname Hawey - Meaning and Origin
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Hawey: What does the surname Hawey mean?
The surname Hawey is derived from the Old English personal name "Hafaige", meaning high enclosure. This suggests that it was a name often given to someone who lived near a high enclosure and could be of either English or Norman descent. Historically, Hawey is an incredible old surname that was found in many manuscripts from before the Norman Conquest.
At it's core, the word Hawey represents something that is physically elevated. In Old English, Hawey means a high enclosure, and this could refer to a tall fence, a wall, a fortress or a building located on a high terrain. Some scholars have also suggested that Hawey might mean a lookout or watchtower, which would make a lot of sense, seeing as someone with this surname likely watched over the area near the high enclosure they lived in.
In the modern day, Hawey may be a scarce name but it still represents the sense of elevation that was associated with the name centuries ago. Hawey suggests someone who is strong and capable of overcoming obstacles, who will defend what needs protecting, and who stands tall above obstacles.
Order DNA origin analysisHawey: Where does the name Hawey come from?
The surname Hawey is relatively uncommon today, and primarily found in areas of the United Kingdom and the United States.
In the United Kingdom, a concentration of records indicating individuals bearing the name are found in at least three counties: Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. The earliest records in the counties date back to the seventeenth century, suggesting ancestry is likely to have resided in the area for multiple generations prior.
In the United States, records of the surname date back to before the Revolutionary War and are primarily found in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. This is likely due to much of the early immigrants to the colonies coming from Eastern England and Scotland, where the name has some presence. An additional concentration of the surname is found in the Midwest today, particularly Wisconsin and Ohio.
Overall, the Hawey surname appears to be relatively uncommon and suggests ancestry likely roots back to England. Today it appears to be concentrated primarily in the US in the Northeast and Midwest, and in multiple counties in the UK.
Variations of the surname Hawey
The surname Hawey is of Anglo-Saxon origin meaning "dweller in the hedged enclosure", indicating that it was derived from the Old English word "haw". The surname has a few variants that have been derived over the centuries, such as Hawea, Haweis, Hawes, and Haweys. In some cases, the surname has been spelled slightly differently such as in Hawy or Hawyse.
In some cases, the surname has evolved into different surnames such as Howe, Howes, Howse, and Howses. For example, the Howe surname has derived from Hawey and is thought to be of both English or Scottish origin. Likewise, the Howes surname is of English and possibly Norse origin, being derived from Hawey.
Other spellings of the general Hawey surname include Ay, Eye, Eigh, Eave, Ey, and Eaye. In some cases, this surname has been used to create hybrid surnames such as Hyer, Eyhey, and Hayer.
In some cases, Hawey has even evolved into more modern surnames such as Haw, Hau, Hay, Hayes, Hav, Haus, Haws, Ho, Howa, Hows, He, Haye, and Haynes. All of these surnames are derived in one way or another from the original surname of Hawey.
Famous people with the name Hawey
- Zoe Hawey: an American actress known for roles in films including Bachelor Party Vegas and Serial Daters Anonymous
- Scott Hawey: an Australian Paralympic swimmer who competed at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Paralympics
- Michelle Hawey: a Canadian judge on the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario
- David Hawey: an American actor and producer known for roles in films such as The Hangover Part III and Trust Me
- Barry Hawey: an American former Major League Baseball player
- Jake Hawey: an English cricketer who plays for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
- Paul Hawey: an English footballer who plays for Dagenham and Redbridge F.C.
- John Hawey: a former British astronaut who commanded the Space Shuttle mission STS-61C
- Ian Hawey: a British actor best known for roles in films including The Italian Job and The Bourne Ultimatum
- Chris Hawey: a British writer and poet, known for his novels The Folding Mirror and The Last Word