Hercules Family History

Hispanic West Indian Guyanese and South African: from the personal name Hercules which is the Latin form of classical Greek Hēraklēs meaning ‘glory of Hera’ (Hera was the queen of the gods). It was the name of a demigod in classical mythology who was the son of Zeus king of the gods by a human woman; his outstanding quality was his superhuman strength.

English (Lancashire): variant by folk etymology of Argles a nickname from Middle English (originally Norman) orguillous erguleis Old French orgoillos orguilleus ergoillose ‘proud, arrogant, showy’ (in manner or dress).

Compare Orgill and Argyle. A derivation from the personal name Hercules (see 1 above) is implausible as this was not used as an English personal name until the 16th century and then only among families with an education in Classics who would already possess hereditary surnames.