My name is Philip Hayes. I was born in the United States, as was my father—but according to the deep dive I’ve taken into our genealogy, we are unmistakably, undeniably, 100% Irish up to my father.  My father is a third-generation American, yet the Hayes line remained pure up to him.

Our family roots trace back to Killarney, a town nestled in the rolling green hills of County Kerry, Ireland. It’s a place steeped in ancient traditions, folklore, and beauty—and it’s where our story begins.

But to understand where we came from, we first have to understand the name that carried us across generations, and across oceans: Hayes.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The surname Hayes has multiple origins globally, but in Ireland, it is almost always the Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó hAodha (pronounced Oh HAY-uh).

Ó hAodha means “descendant of Aodh”, and Aodh is an ancient Irish personal name that translates to “fire.” Not metaphorical fire, but the elemental kind—brilliant, consuming, life-giving. A fitting name for a people known for their resilience and spirit.

In ancient times, Aodh was not just a common name—it was associated with early Celtic gods of the sun and fire, a divine spark passed down from the mythic age of Ireland’s past.

Not Just One Clan

Here’s the fascinating part: multiple unrelated families in ancient Ireland used the name Ó hAodha. That means the surname Hayes doesn’t descend from one single “Hayes family,” but rather several Gaelic clans who each had an ancestor named Aodh.

In County Kerry—where Killarney is located—our Hayes ancestors likely belonged to a local Kerry sept of the Ó hAodha name. While records are sparse, the Kerry branches were particularly strong in the southwest of Ireland, where Gaelic traditions and language lasted longer than anywhere else.

From Gaelic Hills to American Soil

Like many Irish families, the Hayes clan likely left Ireland during the wave of mass emigration in the 18th or 19th century, possibly during the Great Famine of the 1840s. Killarney was hit hard during those years, as were most of the rural Catholic communities of Ireland.

When they arrived in America, names like Ó hAodha were adapted—or anglicized—to sound more English. And so “Ó hAodha” became “Hayes,” a name that would blend into American society but carry with it centuries of Irish fire.

The Legacy of “Fire”

Knowing that the name Hayes literally comes from the word fire adds a poetic twist to our story. Fire is transformation. Fire is warmth, survival, and strength. It’s the element our ancestors carried with them—not just metaphorically, but linguistically—when they left their homeland.

When I think about my Irish roots, I don’t just think of green hills and distant castles. I think of the ancient name Aodh, the flames it represents, and how that fire still lives on in the hearts and names of descendants like me—born thousands of miles away, but still connected.

In Closing

Whether your last name is Hayes or you share ancestry in Killarney or County Kerry, you’re part of a larger story—one that spans centuries and continents.

The name Hayes is more than just a label. It’s a symbol of an ancient lineage, a story of resilience, and a spark passed down through time.

And for me, Philip Hayes—a man whose ancestors literally carried the name “fire” in their blood—maybe it’s no surprise I became a firefighter.

After 38 years in the Stamford Fire Department, and now serving as Deputy Fire Chief, I like to think I’ve simply been living up to my name.

And that’s something worth remembering—and passing on.