This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'Ap-Hugh' (Welsh), i.e. 'the son of Hugh,' of which an early form was Hew. The better class Welsh seemingly began to adopt the English style in the 17th century. William Ap-Hugh, of the parish of Llanegfan, Anglesey, gentleman, by will dated May 18, 1665, bequeathed legacies to his brother Edmund Ap-Hugh, and to his sons Hugh Hughes, and Henry Hughes. The will is printed in N. and Q., Sept 3. 1887 (p. 186). For a variant, v. Pew.

1610. Jevan Ap-Hugh and Katherine Whitfield: Marriage Lic. (Westminster).

1614-5. Richard Ap-Hugh, alias Hughes, and Anne Knight: ibid.

John Apew, 1642: Peacock's Army List of Roundheads and Cavaliers.

John Pew, 1642: ibid.

This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the pie,' i.e. magpie; compare Nightingale, Lark, Finch, Goldfinch. A common entry in early registers.

Agnes relicta Pye, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John Pye, Norfolk, ibid.

Walter Pye, Norfolk, ibid.

Willelmus Py, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Robertas Pye, 1379: ibid.

1607. Baptised — Thomas, s. Robert Pye: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1615. Otwell Pye, Cornwall: Register of the University of Oxford.

A Fife surname. It is the same as Pyott which see. Kathren Pai in Weyms, 1632 (PBK., p. 36), The tombstone of Eufamie Pye in the Howff, Dundee, carries the arms of Pyot. An old Lancashire name (Guppy, p. 253). compare French Lopie.

(Anglo-French-Latin) a nickname and sign-name from the Magpie [Middle English Old French pye, pie, Latin pica, a magpie] John Pye.—Hundred Rolls And she was proud and peert as is a pye.—Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 3950.

His ledene [speech] be in oure Lordes ere Like a pies chiteryng.—Piers Plowman, 7935-6.

(English) Dweller at the sign of the magpie; one with some characteristic of a magpie.

Welsh, Ap-Hugh, the son of Hugh. See AP.

One of the many surnames derived from Hugh. Ap-Hugh has, in some parts of Wales, been corrupted to Pye. See anecdote in English Surn. i. 180. It may, however, sometimes be derived from the bird, now called the Mag-pie, the first syllable of which is a puerile addition, like Tom and Robin, in ' Tom Cat ' and ' Robin Redbreast.' Pye is the true Old English name of the bird, as found in medieval literature; e.g.:

A contraction of Ap Hugh, the son of Hugh, "u" having in Welsh the sound of "y."

A contraction of Ap Hugh (see Pugh); also, a bird; there was an old sign of a pye over an inn in London called Bye Corner.

From the Danish, Pii; from the Flemish, Peys, Pye; from the German, Poyer; a personal name.

Pye: an inn sign; probably a shop sign as well.

Lancashire is the home of the Pyes of the north of England, whilst Kent is their home in the south. In the 13th century the name was represented in Norfolk, Suffolk, Hants, etc. (H. R.).