Ó hAodha

Ó hAodha is a Gaelic-Irish surname, that has commonly been Anglicised to Hayes or Hughes.

Overview
Now generally anglicised as O'Hea (in County Cork), Hughes or Hayes, Ó hAodha derives from Aodh, a personal name (meaning "fire") popular at all historical times throughout the Gaelic world.

It is the surname of at least ten unrelated families found in Gaelic Ireland, such as


 * Ó hAodha of Muscraighe-Luachra/the Múscraige of Sliabh Luachra, now County Cork;
 * Ó hAodha of Tír Chonaill (centered at Ballyshannon, County Donegal);
 * Ó hAodha of Tír Eoghain (around Ardstraw, County Tyrone;
 * Ó hAodha of Ulaid (around what is now Tynan, County Armagh;
 * Ó hAodha of Airgíalla (centred on what is now Farney, County Monaghan;
 * Ó hAodha of Dál Fiatach in Ulaid (now south County Down;
 * Ó hAodha of Muintir Murchada in what is now County Galway.

Bearers of the name

 * Flann Ua Aedha, Abbot of Aran, died 1110.
 * Séamas Ó hAodha, member of the Gaelic League, fl. 1914 - 1922.