Hudson

Background:  Patroynmic of Hudd, English: from the popular medieval given name Hudde, which is of complex origin. It is usually explained as a pet form of Hugh (a short form of any of the various Germanic compound names with the first element hug heart, mind, spirit), but there was a pre-existing Old English personal name, Huda, underlying placenames such as Huddington Worcestershire. This personal name may well still have been in use at the time of the Norman Conquest. If so, it was absorbed by the Norman Hugh and its many diminutives. [Reaney, 1967] adduces evidence that Hudde was also regarded as a pet form of Richard.

In early England a man was known by but one name. When surnames first came into use, Richard the son of Roger was known as Richard Fitz-Roger, Fitz being a corruption of the Latin, filius, or son. The nickname of Roger was Hodge, and the son of Roger became Hodgson, Hodson or Hudson, and Richard Fitz-Roger became Richard Hudson.

In the opinion of English genealogosts, the early ancestors of the Hudson family came into England with William the Conqueror in 1066. They were a numerous family, and the names of Richard, John, Henry and William were repeated to the point of confusion.

Henry Hudson, Gentleman, was an Alderman of London. He had acquired wealth in trade and was the Lord of a number of Manors, some of which had been conferred upon him by King Henry VIII for service to the Crown. He died in 1555, and was buried in the Church of St. Dunstans.

Another Henry Hudson, thought to be the son of Alderman Hudson, was a founder and director of the Muscovy Company, probably the father of Henry Hudson, the Explorer, who made two of his first voyages for the Muscovy Company. After the Explorer, and his son, John, had lost their lives at sea, his wife, Katherine apprenticed another son, Richard to the Company. He served in India and died there in 1648. There was another son, Oliver.

Places of residence and repetition of family names indicate that Alderman Hudson had another son, William, married to Alice Turner, whose son, Richard, was baptized in the ancient Church of St. Editha, Tamworth, Staffordshire, on November 5, 1608. Later he appeared in the register of the Church of St. Mary Aldermary in London, together with records of Oliver Hudson, son of Henry, the Explorer. This Richard had a brother named Nicholas.

Name Variations:  Hudson, Hutson.

References:
One or more of the following publications has been referenced for this article.
The General Armory; Sir Bernard Burke - 1842.
A Handbook of Mottoes; C.N. Elvin - 1860.
English Surnames; C.M. Matthews - 1966.
A Dictionary of English Surnames; P.H. Reaney - 1958.
Reaney 1967 - The Origin of English Surnames
Hudson Family History: http://rootie.geeknet.com/hudson.html

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