Vaughan Surname

5,644th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 100,162 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Wales

Vaughan Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from a nickname. Welsh, 'the little'; compare English Little, Bigg, &c. Lower says, 'Vaughan, Welsh vychan, little in stature, a personal name of great antiquity': Patronymica Britannica. Vaughn seems to be a modern Americanism.

Read More About This Surname

Vaughan Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States53,9821:6,714790
England19,3371:2,881385
Australia7,9531:3,394474
Canada4,4701:8,2431,219
Wales4,2041:73667
Ireland2,8191:1,670330
South Africa1,5881:34,1174,359
New Zealand1,1961:3,786601
Scotland7001:7,6481,162
Jamaica5101:5,627720
Northern Ireland5031:3,668719
Nigeria3431:516,45125,548
Barbados3011:955231
Mexico2411:515,0469,128
Thailand1701:415,52072,834
Panama1611:24,3001,515
Spain1501:311,68018,543
Germany1381:583,37347,320
Brazil1351:1,585,73652,536
France1131:587,81278,453
Belize781:4,557813
Zimbabwe701:220,54624,781
Dominican Republic621:168,2736,481
Singapore601:91,7953,674
Netherlands581:291,15835,264
Portugal571:182,7767,697
Argentina551:777,15351,982
Japan531:2,412,15630,150
Botswana501:43,7398,388
Nicaragua371:162,7322,305
Isle of Man341:2,524513
Switzerland341:241,55620,206
Saint Kitts and Nevis271:2,044342
Israel261:329,14027,831
Chile231:765,93416,989
Guernsey221:2,929767
India191:40,371,862445,856
Russia191:7,585,424283,555
China181:75,962,3094,162
Costa Rica171:281,1813,072
Philippines161:6,327,389184,366
Estonia151:88,12015,474
Sweden151:656,45048,545
Colombia141:3,412,43415,450
Cyprus141:63,2056,078
Denmark141:403,19427,097
Iceland141:27,1492,069
Malaysia141:2,106,73083,604
Guyana131:58,6324,970
Belgium121:958,05473,966
Trinidad and Tobago121:113,6657,200
Gibraltar101:3,395741
Hong Kong101:733,5483,685
Jersey101:9,9202,003
Tunisia91:67,8478,246
Norway81:642,78647,258
Indonesia71:18,892,742520,071
Italy71:8,736,670118,213
Qatar61:393,00055,922
Austria41:2,128,85991,203
Cayman Islands41:15,9731,430
Iraq41:8,755,41423,373
Peru41:7,946,03141,846
Saudi Arabia41:7,713,95437,548
United States Virgin Islands41:27,5943,273
Afghanistan31:10,717,72835,605
Cambodia31:5,162,38210,688
Greece31:3,693,263126,191
Kazakhstan31:5,894,165166,702
Myanmar31:17,312,6622,080
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines31:37,5531,173
South Korea31:17,080,0852,793
United Arab Emirates31:3,054,09190,853
Vietnam31:30,882,0184,101
Angola21:13,494,60711,780
Bahamas21:195,8761,708
Croatia21:2,114,30285,143
Ecuador21:7,952,92334,269
Egypt21:45,967,877132,655
Georgia21:1,872,77235,618
Ghana21:13,510,34623,679
Guatemala21:8,041,3349,698
Namibia21:1,204,70016,113
Oman21:1,843,9869,590
Papua New Guinea21:4,076,858165,791
Romania21:10,038,93580,612
Taiwan21:11,722,37363,559
Algeria11:38,631,551130,422
Andorra11:83,8382,381
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Bhutan11:616,0391,715
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Burkina Faso11:18,352,10030,051
Czechia11:10,633,469206,023
El Salvador11:6,343,8888,415
Grenada11:108,5351,793
Honduras11:8,816,4429,272
Kenya11:46,179,900103,372
Kuwait11:3,800,69427,187
Kyrgyzstan11:5,972,65499,197
Luxembourg11:580,54215,155
Malta11:430,2723,380
Moldova11:3,561,36878,271
Morocco11:34,476,099111,471
Mozambique11:27,261,5697,432
Northern Mariana Islands11:54,5801,498
Poland11:38,008,749231,653
Saint Martin11:35,156229
Senegal11:14,579,34211,705
Serbia11:7,144,94838,459
Slovakia11:5,336,450140,422
Sri Lanka11:20,808,56018,521
Togo11:7,247,76812,049
Turkey11:77,821,422191,047
Turks and Caicos Islands11:34,329862
Uruguay11:3,431,75838,295
Uzbekistan11:30,929,14267,786
Vanuatu11:263,2762,086
Zambia11:15,849,92253,989
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland1,5681:2,825528
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England7,1111:3,428487
Wales3,0581:51348
Scotland811:46,2133,298
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States10,1121:4,966625

Vaughan (11,608) may also be a first name.

Vaughan Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from a nickname. Welsh, 'the little'; compare English Little, Bigg, &c. Lower says, 'Vaughan, Welsh vychan, little in stature, a personal name of great antiquity': Patronymica Britannica. Vaughn seems to be a modern Americanism.

William Vachan, Salop, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Adam ap-Thewely Vachan, Cardiganshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Owen Vaghan, Salop, ibid.

Davey Watkynge Vaghan: Visit. Gloucester, 1623.

1601. Evan Vaughan, Salop: Register of the University of Oxford.

Jenkin Vaughan, prebendary of St. David's, 1621: History and Ant. St. David's.

Jerworth Vachan: Visit. London, 1633.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

Patrick Vaughan was a bookbinder in Aberdeen, 1673 (Edin. App.). From Welsh Vychan, a mutation of bycnan, little, small. A personal name of considerable antiquity in Wales.

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Celtic) Little, Small [Welsh Vychan, mutation of bychan] Rys Vychan.—Brut y Tywysogion, A.D. 1248.

In I3th-cent. West.English records we find the forms Vachait and Vaghan.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

A common Welsh name, used in Munster for Ó Macháin-see Mohan and Mahon. IF 217; MIF 180

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

“Small” in Welsh (Fychan).

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(Welsh) Descendant of Vaughan (little).

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

Welsh vychan, little in stature; answering to Petit, Basset, Little, See . A personal name of great antiquity. In the more eminent families, the Ap was disused in the XVI. and XVII. centuries. The Vaughans of Burlton Hall, co. Salop, deduce themselves from the renowned Tudor Trevor, the common patriarch of so many noble and gentle families in the principality. The Vaughans of Penmaen spring from Seissyllt, lord of Mathavarn, in the XIV. century, through Jenkin Vychan, Esquire of the body to King Henry VII., whose son John, adopted the settled name of Vychan or Vaughan. The Vaughans of Court Field, co. Monmouth, were of good antiquity before the adoption of the settled surname, in the XVI. cent. B.L.G.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

(Welsh.) The same as Bychan or Vychan, little, small in stature.

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

(Welsh), Little. (variant: le Bihan and Klein.)

Surnames (1857) by Bernard Homer Dixon

The Vaughans have now their principal home in North Wales and Shropshire, but the name is also now represented in Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, and South Wales. Vaughan is a personal name of great antiquity, but like other Welsh names it did not become a settled surname until the 16th century (Lower). A very old Shropshire family bears the name. It is now numerous in Shrewsbury and its neighbourhood, and in fact the Vaughans have been connected with that town ever since the 13th and 14th centuries, when some of the Shrewsbury bailiffs were named Vaughan or Vaghan (Phillips' "Shrewsbury"). Brecknockshire in South Wales is also an ancient home of the name; to this family belonged Sir Roger Vaughan, one of the heroes of Agincourt; from this stock are said to have sprung in early times the Vaughans of Courtfield in Monmouthshire, and of Clifford in Herefordshire (Jones' "Brecknockshire" and Coxe's "Monmouthshire").

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain (1890) by Henry Brougham Guppy

User-submitted Reference

The surname Vaughan means 'to loose'. It is a common surname in England, Scotland, Wales and New Zealand.

- lietuva

Vaughan Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Vaughan Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Vaughan (Marathi: वौघन) is more frequently found in The United States than any other country or territory. It may occur as:. For other possible spellings of this surname click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Vaughan? popularity and diffusion

The last name Vaughan is the 5,644th most frequently used family name globally, borne by around 1 in 72,758 people. The last name Vaughan occurs predominantly in The Americas, where 56 percent of Vaughan reside; 55 percent reside in North America and 54 percent reside in Anglo-North America. It is also the 55,419th most frequent first name globally It is held by 11,608 people.

Vaughan is most widespread in The United States, where it is carried by 53,982 people, or 1 in 6,714. In The United States Vaughan is mostly found in: Texas, where 12 percent reside, Virginia, where 10 percent reside and North Carolina, where 6 percent reside. Besides The United States this surname occurs in 118 countries. It also occurs in England, where 19 percent reside and Australia, where 8 percent reside.

Vaughan Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The prevalency of Vaughan has changed through the years. In The United States the number of people who held the Vaughan surname expanded 534 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it expanded 272 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Wales it expanded 137 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Ireland it expanded 180 percent between 1901 and 2014 and in Scotland it expanded 864 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Vaughan Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those holding the Vaughan surname is principally Catholic (81%) in Ireland.

In The United States those holding the Vaughan surname are 8.63% more likely to be registered Republicans than the national average, with 55.4% being registered to vote for the party.

The amount Vaughan earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 38.63% less than the national average, earning 212,398 kr per year; in Peru they earn 53.64% less than the national average, earning S/. 8,986 per year; in South Africa they earn 28.58% more than the national average, earning R 305,556 per year; in United States they earn 1.33% more than the national average, earning $43,722 USD per year and in Canada they earn 3.19% more than the national average, earning $51,266 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Vaughhan934/
Vaunghan933/
Vaughann933/
Vaughaun932/
Vaugahan931/
Vaughjan931/
Vaughane930/
Vaghan92141/
Vaugan9276/
Vughan928/
D'Vaughan882/
Baughan862,482/
Waughan8692/
Vaghane8686/
Voughan8646/
Vaugham8639/
Faughan8631/
Vanghan8630/
Vaghain8627/
Vaughon8623/
Vayghan8618/
Vuaghan8616/
Vaighan869/
Vaugahn867/
Vauhgan867/
Vaghaan863/
Vaghann861/
Vaugant860/
Vagan83231/
Vugan831/
Vaughanová826/
Vajaghan8022/
Beaughan8011/
Baughamn804/
Baunghan801/
Vaghasin801/
Viyaghan801/
Vanghanh801/
Vaughham800/
Baughand800/
Vanghaun800/
Baughain800/
Veughean800/
Faghan77658/
Vaugon77457/
Baghan77363/
Vangan77251/
Vaghon77229/
Vagand77165/
Baugan77157/
Vaagan77150/
Waghan77149/
Vaigan7780/
Vagham7774/
Vagane7772/
Vaygan7738/
Veagan7729/
Bughan7721/
Vaggan7711/
Vugham775/
Vagant774/
Fughan773/
Vougan773/
Waugan772/
Vugane772/
Vuggan771/
Vungan771/
Voghan771/
Vagahn771/
Vahgan771/
Vaugam770/
Vayaghane757/
Vaghasing751/
Veangchan751/
Boughan71782/
Baugham71367/
Vaygant71303/
Bayugan71197/
Beaghan71150/
Bhaghan71131/
Bugahan71114/
Vaigant7153/
Faghane7149/
Baghang7149/
Baghane7143/
Banghan7133/
Vajgand7125/
Vonghan7124/
Vaygand7123/
Vaghone7122/
Waughon7121/
Vejagan7114/
Vajgant7110/
Bughgan7110/
Vanghon719/
Vougang718/
Baaghan718/
Waghane716/
Vaghaam716/
Vaigane715/
Bhughan714/
Bagghan714/
Baghjan714/
Vagatin713/
Vanngan713/
Fanghan713/
Baungan713/
Vaghaum713/
Vaugoin713/
Vijagan713/
Baugane712/
Bunghan712/
Bagahan712/
Vaigham712/
Vaigand712/
Vayagan712/
Baighan712/
Phaghan711/
Feaghan711/
Baghean711/
Vuahgan711/
Vooghan711/
Voghane711/
Vaganne711/
Vaggane711/
Vayugam711/
Vaghoon711/
Vaagane711/
Waghain711/
Fugahan711/
Fughang711/
Bajugan711/
Bagkhan711/
Vaganth711/
Veuigan711/
Viyagan711/
Vaughom711/
Baghand711/
Waugant710/
Woughan710/
Waugham710/
Vougant710/
Fagan6744,028/
Vaganova6711,227/
Wagan677,940/
Bagan676,928/
Vogan672,119/
Bugan671,573/
Bayungan67646/
Vaygandt67455/
Vagon67165/
Vagam67155/
Bhaighan67135/
Vongchan6759/
Bangchan6754/
Vayagand6739/
Vagasing6725/
Vaysgant6721/
Huanghan6721/
Baghasin6719/
Fugan6719/
Wugan6716/
Vugam6713/
Bagchand6712/
Bhaghane675/
Vonghanh674/
Hvangain674/
Boughhan673/
Bungchan673/
Baughham672/
Bhagchan672/
Vaganová672/
Boughamn671/
Baughaum671/
Bainghan671/
Bhusghan671/
Bhaugane671/
Viyagjan671/
Uagan671/
Vaghosin671/
Vagán671/
Vagón671/
Vajagain671/
Vajgandt671/
Vagasien671/
Vaigaham671/
Vaigandt671/
Vaighaum671/
Wahaghan671/
Bhaghand671/
Bayaghan671/
Bayuñgan671/
Banghean671/
Bhaghain671/
Funghean671/
Uogan670/

Vaughan Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Vaughan in the Marathi language
वौघनvaughana-

Search for Another Surname

Vaughan Reference & Research

Vaughans of Durham, North Carolina - A genealogy of the descendants of Sampson Vaughan, of Durham, North Carolina, with extensive biographical details.

John & Elinor Vaughan Descendants - Family History site with resources, documents and stories of John Vaughan family originating 1789 in Hay, Breconshire and Llanfoist, Monmouthshire with descendants in the United States.

Vaughan DNA Website - A web page dedicated to the genetic research of those who bear the surname and its variants.

Vaughan FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Vaughan
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis