Hayes is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó hAodha, meaning "descendant of Aodh". In Irish tradition, Aodh is a name of great antiquity, deriving from Old Irish Áed, which meant "fire." This connection to elemental fire imbues the lineage with a sense of ancient spirituality and power, linking modern bearers to a past rich with myth and history.
The original Gaelic form, Ó hAodha, evolved through anglicization to Hayes. This surname belongs to the broader family of names derived from dialects of Irish and Scottish Gaelic. The name Aodh was extremely popular in early Ireland, borne by numerous figures in Irish mythology and several high kings of the Érainn. The name was traditionally Anglicized as Hugh, introducing a related but distinct etymological layer: Hugh comes from Germanic roots meaning "mind, thought, spirit," representing a fitting summary of its conceptual essence.
This link reveals that Hayes encompasses both the Gaelic {"fire": Aodh”}