HAWS
Haws is a surname of strictly English origin, traditionally associated with topographic and locational roots within the British Isles. The earliest occurrences of the name appear in the 13th‑century records of England, suggesting its long-standing presence in the country.
In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire dated 1279, the name is recorded as Robert Hawyse, indicating a family that had already established itself within the local community during the reign of Edward I. Earlier, in the Curia Rolls of Suffolk (1208), the designation Hawis appears. Yet another early reference, dated 1634, notes the departure of Reginoll Hawes from London to Virginia, thereby extending the surname beyond the British Isles.
The etymology of Haws is multifaceted. One derivation stems from the Old English word haga, meaning an enclosure or hedge, so the name was originally applied to a person dwelling near such a feature. An alternative theory links the surname to the Middle English word hawe, denoting a hawthorn fruit; consequently, it may have been used for someone living near hawthorn trees or a boggy place where such bushes grew. A further possibility is that the surname arose from the Old English term hafoc meaning hawk, which could have served as a nickname for a person bearing hawk‑like qualities or a falconer. Moreover, the medieval given name Haw (a pet form of Hawkin or Havekin) and the Norman‑derived female name Haueis (derived from the Germanic Haduwidis) have also been cited as potential sources, yielding metronymic or patronymic variants such as Hawes or Hawyes.
Over the centuries, regional accents and inconsistent spelling practices gave rise to a number of variants, including Hawes, Hawse, Haw, Hause, Hoss, Hös, Hoes and Hose. The presence of these differences does not imply a common ancestry; on the contrary, several unconnected families may have independently adopted the same surname in different locales.
Geographically, the name is found at places such as Haws in Cumbria and at the broader locality of Haugh in Sussex and West Yorkshire. From the 17th century onward, emigrants bearing the name settled in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Germany, thereby dispersing it throughout the English‑speaking world and beyond. In the United States its prevalence is modest, ranking as the 5860th most common surname with an estimated 5,472 bearers.
Overall, the surname Haws demonstrates a complex combination of topographic, occupational and personal name origins. While it has survived into the modern era, it remains relatively uncommon, and its bearers are often unaware of the varied ways in which the name could have first appeared in medieval England. The shared spelling does not necessarily indicate shared lineage, as independent origins across different regions have produced families bearing the same name without any genealogical connection.
Typical given names associated with the Haws surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Barry
- Christopher
- David
- Edward
- John
- Kevin
- Scott
- Stephen
- Steven
Female
- Alexia
- Caroline
- Jacqueline
- Jayne
- Jean
- Joanne
- Julie
- Kimberley
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Sarah
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Haws in...
Braille
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Haws are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Butter Keks.
There are approximately 137 people named Haws in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Haws.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
