Surname Hawkes - Meaning and Origin

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Z. Hawkes

Hawkes: What does the surname Hawkes mean?

The last name Hawkes is of English origin and it is believed to be a topographical or occupational surname. As an occupational surname, it could have been used for a person who held the position of a hawker, someone who sold goods, often traveling from place to place to sell their wares. Often, the goods hawked would be small necessaries such as needles, threads, pins, and similar items. As a topographical surname, it could have been used to refer to people who lived by a nook or corner of land, derived from the Old English word "halc" or "haecc". This surname dates back to early medieval times, around the 12th and 13th centuries. There are alternate spellings including Hawk, Hawke, and Hawkin among others.

Hawkes: Where does the name Hawkes come from?

The surname Hawkes is of English origins and is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century word "hafoc" meaning "hawk." It was originally a nickname used to describe someone who bore a supposed resemblance to a hawk, focusing on aspects such as swiftness, sharp-sightedness, or fierceness. Another possibility for the usage is that it could be an occupational surname for a person who had duties such as training hawks. The surname first surfaced in recorded history in the early 13th century.

The Hawkes surname is common in English-speaking countries today. In the UK, there is a higher concentration of people with the surname Hawkes in Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire. In the United States, it is most common in the New England region, especially in the state of Maine. There are also people with the surname Hawkes living in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, reflecting the diaspora of English-speaking peoples.

Variations of the surname Hawkes

The surname Hawkes is of English origin and is commonly associated with someone who acted as a servant for a person called Hawk. There have been several variant spellings of Hawkes due to the evolution of the English language, cultural differences, and individual phonetic choices.

Some variations include Haukes, Hawke, Hawk, Hawks, Hauck, Haucks, Hauk, and Hauks. Other less common variants are Halks, Hawx, Halk, Haacke, Haacks, Haake, Haaken, and Haakon. Regionally influenced variations may include the Irish O'hAichir and the Scottish and rare English Haukin, Hawkin, and Howkin.

The surnames Hawkins and Hawkinson may also share the same origins with Hawkes. In some cases, the name could have arrived in different regions as a locative surname, indicating someone who lived by a "hawk's hill" or similar landmark – hence the names Hawkhill, Hawkshaw, and Hawksworth.

It is also worth noting that in medieval times, surnames were seldom consistently spelled in the same way, hence the substantial variations that have evolved. Many varied forms of these surnames still exist today, with possible alternative spellings also including Haques, Hawquis, Hawckes and Hawckys.

Famous people with the name Hawkes

• Jeff Hawkes: British actor best known for the film The Black Adder which he wrote, produced and starred in
• Joanna Lumley: English actress who has played Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous
• Richard Hawkes: British politician, Leader of the UK Labour Party and Member of the European Parliament
• Rob Hawkes: English game developer and author
• Rebecca Hall: British-American actress best known for her role in the films Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The Town
• Chris Hawkes: YouTube personality known for his coding tutorials
• Steve Hawkes: British journalist and news editor
• Michael Hawkes: British reality TV personality, best known for appearing on the ITV series Take Me Out
• David Hawkes: Canadian poet and Emeritus Professor of English and Asian Studies
• Jeremy Hawkes: English music producer, songwriter and passionate art collector

Other surnames

HawkeHawkenHawkensHawker