The surnames Chajes (Ashkenazic Hebrew), Chayes, Hayyot, Hayyut, Hiyyut are from the Hebrew word Hebrew: חיות.
Hebrew: חיוֹת means animal; Hebrew: חיוּת means vitality
Abram Chayes (1922-2000), American scholar of international law
Benno Chajes (1880-1938), German physician and hygienist
Jennifer Tour Chayes (born 1956), mathematical physicist and managing director of Microsoft Research New England
Julius Chajes (1910-1985), pianist and composer
Oscar Chajes (1973-1928), Austrian-American chess player
Sarah Chayes (born 1962), American journalist
Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Chajes (1805-1855), Galician rabbi
Rabbi Zwi Perez Chajes (1876-1927), Austrian rabbi
