Welcome to the Hughes Family page at Surname Finder, a service of Genealogy Today. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with user-contributed information and web sites for the Hughes surname. As additional sources for vital records, original documents, vintage photographs and surname-based DNA projects are discovered, this page is updated to offer the best list for researching Hughes ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
Completed by on
The Hughes Family Tree
Everyone has different reasons for building a family tree; your personal motiviation will influence whether the Hughes family tree has more depth or breadth. Have you struck a Hughes brick wall? Read "Caring for your Ancestors" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Hughes Ancestors
Hughes Genealogy
Sometimes two people can look at the same handwritten record, and come up with different spellings of the name. Be creative when searching for your Hughes ancestors -- we often search for misspellings intentionally to see if we missed any records. Genealogy is more than just searching through databases. Articles like "Digital Books and Microfilm" can help accelerate your Hughes research.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Hughes
Census records are among the most useful records available for family tree building.
There are currently matching Hughes records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Hughes family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Hughes Surname
There are no clear, concise answers to why or how one of your Hughes ancestors took on the surname. It may have been based on their occupation or a distinguising physical trait. Were you aware that Hughes is a common Irish surname? The article "The Luck of the Irish Research" may be helpful for your research. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Hughes DNA Projects
While DNA testing cannot conclusively tell you if two Hughes ancestors were related, it can easily prove if they weren't. Be sure you understand what types of research issues each different DNA test can address before you spend any money. If you're not sure how DNA testing could aid your Hughes research, read "Basics of DNA Family History Research".
Hughes Family History
There is more to exploring your Hughes ancestry than just gathering a bunch of names and dates. Understanding where your ancestors lived, how they were employed, and what they did for fun, may give you a better appreciation of your heritage. Whether you are a beginner or expert genealogists, knowing Where can I find a biography of my Hughes ancestor? is always useful.
Photo Collections
Networking with Hughes Researchers
When digging deeper into your ancestor's occupation, a great way to connect with others of a similar interest -- many who might have detailed information, is by posting a message board query giving clear information as to your ancestor's name and the specific occupation or organization, in time and place. The article "The Art of Posting Queries" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Hughes queries.
You may also want to consider posting a query to the Community Message Boards at Genealogy Today to get assistance from other researchers on your most elusive Hughes ancestors.
Hughes Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Hughes was the 88th most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Hughes Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Hughes, contact the folks at ProGenealogists for a free research estimate. You may also find it helpful to read, "When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist."
RootsWeb search of US Naturalization Records
RootsWeb search of Obituary Daily Times
RootsWeb search of Social Security Death Index
To recommend your web site/blog for inclusion on this page, please submit a link to the user-contributed directory at Genealogy Today. Your web page may appear once its content has been reviewed by our editors.
Recently Discovered HUGHES Clippings and Mentions
Upcoming Hughes Family Reunions
Pedigree charts and family group records are important genealogical tools, so bringing or creating on site a big family pedigree (or family tree) is sure to draw attention; at the same time, have plenty of blank family group sheets available for individual families to complete and submit to go into a "Hughes family record book," which you can then digitize and share -- you can then bring the physical book back to the next reunion, adding new families each time. The article "A Great Way to Unite a Newly-Found Family" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Hughes reunion.
See Also
Huges Heughes Hughe Huge Hughhe Heughe Hugha Hughi Hughy McHughes
Surname Finder, The Hughes Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.