Recorded as Haws, Hawes, Hawse, Hawyes, and possibly others, this is an English surname. It has several possible origins. The first is locational from the town of Hawes in North Yorshire. The second is a patronymic from the medieval given name Haw, itself a diminutive or short form of another compound given name such as Hawkin or Havekin, from the pre 7th century word "hafoc", a hawk. The third is from the female personal name Haueis. This was introduced by the Norman invaders after their successful conquest of Engkland in 1066. It derives from the Germanic name Haduwidis composed of the elements "hadu", meaning strife or contention and "widi", wide. As a personal name this is first recorded as Hawis, in the Curia Regis Rolls of Suffolk, in 1208. Amongst the early interesting recordings is that of Reginold Hawes. He left London fro Virgina in January 1634, and was one of the first recorded emigrants to the new British colonies of America. The first recorded spelling of the family name is that of Robert Hawyse. This was dated 1279, in the Oxfordshire Hundred Rolls, during the reign of King Edward 1st, known as The Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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