Names

From Middle English hed meaning “head”, from Old English heafod. It may have referred to a person who had a peculiar head, who lived near the head of a river or valley, or who served as the village headman.

From Chinese 何 (hé), representing a southern pronunciation of the name of the ancient state of Han (see Han). After Han was destroyed by the state of Qin, those who resettled further south changed their name to this character in order to match the local pronunciation.

From various place names meaning “fenced wood” in Old English.

Occupational name for a person who protected an enclosed forest, from Old English hæg “enclosure, fence” and weard “guard”.

Name for a person who lived on a hill, from Middle English heyt meaning “height”.

Patronymic derived from the Norman name Hagano.

Variant of Haley.

Matronymic name derived from the given name Chaya.

Anglicized form of Irish Ó hAodha meaning “descendant of Aodh”.

From various English place names that were derived from Old English hæg meaning “enclosure, fence”. A famous bearer was American President Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893).