Show ContentsHiddleston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Hiddleston was derived from a pre-existing place named Huddleston in the West Riding of Yorkshire. [1] [2] The place name is in turn derived from the Old English personal name Hudel, and are said to be originally of Saxon descent. [3]

Early Origins of the Hiddleston family

The surname Hiddleston was first found in Cumberland, where they originally held Millom Castle at Millom, now in Cumbria . Godard be Boyvill was granted a manor on the site and held the Manor of Millom c. 1134. His granddaughter married into the Hudleston family and ownership was passed in c. 1240. John Hudleston was given a licence to crenellate in 1335. Over the centuries the castle has fallen into ruin and is now used as a farmhouse. [4]

The Curia Regis Rolls of 1200 included Richard de Hudelesdun in Yorkshire at that time. [5]

The parish of Sawston in Cambridgeshire was home to a branch of this illustrious family in early times. "The ancient manor-house here of the Huddleston family was visited by Queen Mary, who spent some time in it." [6]

"Hoddlesden Hall, in the ancient parish of Whalley, [Yorkshire] was probably the residence of the Hoddlestons or Huddlestons of former times. An old family of Huddleston owned the manor of Westhall, Whittington (Whittaker's "Richmond"). Huddlestone was a well - known name in Lincoln from the 14th to the 16th century, during which period six mayors and one sheriff of the city bore the name." [7]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Willelmus de Hodilston as holding lands there at that time. In Cumberland, the "Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III." included: John de Hodeleston, Cumberland, 20 Edward I (during the 20th year of King Edward I's reign.) [4]

Early History of the Hiddleston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hiddleston research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1496, 1517, 1553, 1554, 1557, 1583, 1608, 1655, 1698 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Hiddleston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hiddleston Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hiddleston include Huddleston, Hoddleston, Hodleston, Hiddleston, Hiddlestone and many more.

Early Notables of the Hiddleston family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir William Huddleston who inherited the manor of Sawston in Cambridge in 1496 through his marriage to Isabel, fifth daughter of John, Marquess of Montecute.Sir John Huddleston (1517-1557) of Sawston, Cambridgeshire, was an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Cambridgeshire in October 1553, April 1554 and November 1554.Richard Huddleston (Hudleston) (1583-1655), was an English Benedictine monk, studied philosophy and divinity for a few years in the English College at Rome. He was born in...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hiddleston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hiddleston migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hiddleston or a variant listed above:

Hiddleston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George B. Hiddleston, who arrived in America, in 1892
Hiddleston Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John Hiddleston, aged 55, who arrived in America, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Hiddleston (post 1700) +

  • Emma Elizabeth Hiddleston (b. 1986), English film, television, and stage actress
  • Thomas William "Tom" Hiddleston (b. 1981), English Laurence Olivier Award winning, two-time MTV Movie Award winning actor, best known for playing the character of Loki in Thor (2011), The Avengers (2012), and Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  • John Sydney Hiddleston (1890-1940), New Zealand cricketer who played for the New Zealand National Team (1909-1910) and (1928-1929)


The Hiddleston Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Soli Deo honor et gloria
Motto Translation: Honour and glory be to God alone.


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  7. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook