Where did the surname Hudson originate?

Answer 1

Early Beginnings of The Hudson Name The Hudson name dates back to about 1066 in the county of Yorkshire, England and is traditionally believed to be descendants of the Lords of Hoddleston by European genealogists. The Lords of Hoddleston occupied the castle Millom in Cumberland, on the coast of the Irish sea. After the fall of the Roman Empire, there was fierce rivalry between the Norman's and the Saxons over Yorkshire and the land around the Rhine Valley. The battle of Hastings (1066) found the Normans' as conquerors although the early ancestors of the Hudson family remained. Hudde was a common nickname for Richard, as Bob is to Robert, so it appears that the immediate decendants of Sir Richard Hoddleston were known as the sons of Hudde (Hudson).

Another suggested origin of the Hudson name comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles A.D.853. Russell Hudson, a very distance cousin from South Africa, wrote and guided me to this piece of information. I have seen references to Huda as a root for the Hudson name as well as the Hoddleston root mentioned above. In the theme of providing all the possible information the following is from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles:

A.D. 853. This year Burhred, King of Mercia, with his council, besought King Ethelwulf to assist him to subdue North-Wales. He did so; and with an army marched over Mercia into North-Wales,and made all the inhabitants subject to him. The same year King Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred to Rome; and Leo, who was then pope, consecrated him king, and adopted him as his spiritual son. The same year also Elchere with the men of Kent, and Huda with the men of Surrey, fought in the Isle of Thanet with the heathen army, and soon obtained the victory; but there were many men slain and drowned on either hand, and both the aldermen killed. Burhred, the Mercian king, about this time received in marriage the daughter of Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons.

A.D. 854. This year the heathen men (34) for the first time remained over winter in the Isle of Shepey. The same year King Ethelwulf registered a TENTH of his land over all his kingdom for the honour of God and for his own everlasting salvation. The same year also he went to Rome with great pomp, and was resident there a twelvemonth. Then he returned homeward; and Charles, king of the Franks, gave him his daughter, whose name was Judith, to be his queen. After this he came to his people, and they were fain to receive him; but about two years after his residence among the Franks he died; and his body lies at Winchester. He reigned eighteen years and a half. And Ethelwulf was the son of Egbert, Egbert of Ealhmund, Ealhmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild; Ingild was the brother of Ina, king of the West-Saxons, who held that kingdom thirty-seven winters, and afterwards went to St. Peter, where he died. And they were the sons of Cenred, Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, Creoda of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithugar, Frithugar of Brond, Brond of Balday, Balday of Woden, Woden of Frithuwald, Frithuwald of Freawine, Freawine of Frithuwualf, Frithuwulf of Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Great, Great of Taetwa, Taetwa of Beaw, Beaw of Sceldwa, Sceldwa of Heremod, Heremod of Itermon, Itermon of Hathra, Hathra of Hwala, Hwala of Bedwig, Bedwig of Sceaf; that is, the son of Noah, who was born in Noah's ark: Laznech, Methusalem, Enoh, Jared, Malalahel, Cainion, Enos, Seth, Adam the first man, and our Father, that is, Christ. Amen. Then two sons of Ethelwulf succeeded to the kingdom; Ethelbald to Wessex, and Ethelbert to Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex. Ethelbald reigned five years. Alfred, his third son, Ethelwulf had sent to Rome; and when the pope heard say that he was dead, he consecrated Alfred king, and held him under spiritual hands, as his father Ethelwulf had desired, and for which purpose he had sent him thither.

Although the Hudson Coat of Arms has changed over the years, the oldest known Hudson Coat of Arms consists of Three Lions in the Rampant position with three boars heads as supporting badges. The symbolism of the lions signifies rearing with strength, courage and loyalty as character traits. My research into heraldry did indicate that three lions on a coat of arms is very rare but to date I have not uncovered the significance. The boars' heads were badges that suggested allegiance to the royal arms of King Richard III. King Richard III utilized boars heads as his identifying badges to signify bravery and perseverance. Possibly, the three lions rampant is significant in identifying with King Richard III also.

The arms of Gentleman Henry Hudson (1st generation recorded here) are described as "argent, semee of fleurs de lis gules, a cross engrailed sable. The early Hudson colonists in Virginia utilized a variation of this arms to mark livestock, lending credence to the relationship to Henry.

This information taken from:

http://pages.prodigy.net/vanhudson/hudson2.htm