The Vaughan Family Name

Vaughan is best understood together with Vaughn: both are Welsh spellings of one family name. Its meaning, shared with Vaughn, is “Small, or younger”.

A variant of Vaughn

Before spelling was fixed, Vaughn was also written Vaughan. The same family of names includes Vychan and Baughan.

Heraldry and the Vaughan name

Looking for a Vaughan coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

Research your Vaughan family history with a full surname report and painted coat of arms.