Surname Vaughan - Meaning and Origin
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read moreVaughan: What does the surname Vaughan mean?
The last name Vaughan is of Welsh origin and derives from the Welsh word "bychan," meaning small or junior. So, Vaughan basically denotes 'small', 'junior', or 'the younger'. It was often used to distinguish the younger of two bearers of the same personal name, typically a son who had the same name as his father. Over time, it evolved from being a nickname to a surname. Vaughan is a common surname in Wales and is also prevalent in other English-speaking countries due to Welsh emigration. Some notable individuals with this surname include singer Sarah Vaughan and musician Stevie Ray Vaughan. Despite its literal meaning of 'small', Vaughan has had a substantial presence in the categories of music, politics, sports and more globally.
Order DNA origin analysisVaughan: Where does the name Vaughan come from?
The last name Vaughan is a very popular and common surname in both Wales and England. In Wales, Vaughan is the 12th most popular surname and in England, it is the 35th most common last name. In the United States, Vaughan is the 441st most common surname.
The surname Vaughan is a patronymic name of Welsh origin, taken from the Welsh personal name of ‘ffolant’ or ‘Ffoulk’, both derived from the Germanic personal name Folc. The surname is first recorded in 12th century Cardiff, where a Cadwgan ap Folant is mentioned in the pipe rolls of 1176. The name is often used by or associated with various royal families in Great Britain, including the Tudors and the English House of Lords.
Outside the UK, the Vaughan name is also found in places such as Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Today, it remains prominent throughout Wales, where it is often a sign of Welsh heritage and connection to the past. It is also popular in England, and due to its long history and strong ties to the Welsh language and culture, families of Welsh origin are often proud to call themselves Vaughan.
Variations of the surname Vaughan
The name Vaughan (also spelled Vaugan, Vaughn and Von) is of Welsh origin and is a variant of the Welsh name Fychan, which was derived from the Welsh word ‘fye’ meaning little. Vaughan is one of the most popular surnames in Wales, and is also common in England. The spelling variations of Vaughan are also known as Vaughen, Vaun, Vawin, Vaughn, Vaugen, Von and Valles.
The established surname Vaughan dates back to the 11th century in Wales, with a historical record of an individual named Fychan ap Siriol, mentioned in The Annales Cambriae, a manuscript which chronicles events from Wales in that period.
Variants of the surname Vaughan can also be found under similar names such as Ffawen, Ffawn, Vahan, Vahen, Vawen, Winn, Winnw, Wyne and Faun. These are mainly cognates of Vaughan embodied with the Welsh ‘v’ or ‘f’. The spelling of the surname could behave been altered over the years due to mistranscriptions and illiterate spelling.
The use of patronymic surnames, (where the name was derived from the father’s name) was common in the Middle Ages, and the variants of Vaughan are a major instance of this tradition. These other spellings were used in place of the traditional Vaughan, making the name Fychan the original.
Vaughan is an enduring surname, that has withstood the test of time, with its multiple variations, occasionally cropped up across the British Isles in different forms. Whether the intention was to remain true to its Welsh character of to create unique flow (in an era where records were all but non-existent), the fact that the surname Vaughan still exists is a testament to its endurance.
Famous people with the name Vaughan
- Sarah Vaughan: Grammy award-winning jazz vocalist
- Stevie Ray Vaughan: American blues rock musician
- Jimmie Vaughan: American blues rock musician and producer
- Paul Vaughan: Australian professional rugby league footballer
- Robert Ellis Vaughan: American actor best known for his role in "Pretty in Pink"
- Lamont Vaughan: American R&B singer
- Caryn Elaine Johnson, more popularly known as Whoopi Goldberg: American comedian, actress and television host
- Aceyalone: American hip-hop artist
- Amberleigh West: American actress
- R. Carlos Nakai: Native American flautist and recording artist