The name Hugh has its origins in the Germanic language, derived from the Old Frankish word "hug", meaning "heart", "mind", or "spirit". It has also been associated with the Old Norse word "hughr", which means "mind" or "soul". The name is believed to have first emerged around the 7th or 8th century in regions where Germanic languages were spoken, such as parts of modern-day France, Germany, and the Low Countries.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name can be found in the 9th century, in reference to Hugh the Abbot, a Benedictine monk who lived from around 810 to 844 AD. He is known for establishing the Monastery of St. Germain d'Auxerre in France and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

In the 10th century, the name gained prominence with Hugh Capet, the first monarch of the Capetian dynasty and the founder of the modern French monarchy. Born around 941 AD, Hugh Capet was elected as the King of France in 987 and ruled until his death in 996.

Another notable figure from history bearing the name Hugh was Hugh of Lincoln, an English nobleman and one of the wealthiest men in England during the 12th century. He was also known for his involvement in the Crusades and his support for the monastic orders.

In the 13th century, Hugh of Saint-Cher, a Dominican friar and scholar, made significant contributions to the study of the Bible and biblical exegesis. He is credited with compiling the first known concordance of the Bible, a tool that greatly facilitated the study of scripture.

The name remained popular throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance period, with figures such as Hugh Latimer, an English Renaissance scholar and one of the leaders of the English Reformation in the 16th century. Latimer was born around 1485 and was eventually martyred for his Protestant beliefs in 1555.

Other notable figures with the name Hugh include Hugh Lofting, the British author and creator of the beloved children's book character Doctor Dolittle, born in 1886, and Hugh Jackman, the Australian actor known for his portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men film series, born in 1968.