Hudson Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the Hudson surname: its meaning, its roots in England, and its heraldry.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Hudson coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Hudson name
Hudson is a patronymic, "son of Hudde", a medieval pet form of Richard and sometimes of Hugh. It is above all a name of Yorkshire and the north of England, where many patronymics in -son were formed. The navigator Henry Hudson, who explored the Hudson River and Hudson Bay for Dutch and English backers, gave it a lasting place on the map of North America and Canada.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Hudson name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Hudson name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Hudson family history
The researched Hudson pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Hudson coat of arms.
Hudson name FAQ
What does the Hudson name mean?
Son of Hudde (Richard or Hugh). Common variants include Hodson, Hudsone, Hutson.
Where does the Hudson surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Hudson coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Hudson crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Hudson coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.