Show ContentsHughson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Clan from whom the Hughson family descends began among the ancient Dalriadan kingdom of the west coast of Scotland. Their name comes from the "son of little Hugh."

Early Origins of the Hughson family

The surname Hughson was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, on the Isle of Bute, from ancient times where they were descended from the MacDonalds of Sleat.

Early History of the Hughson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hughson research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1613, 1648, 1662, 1680, 1739 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Hughson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hughson Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name Hughson include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include Hewison, Heweson, Howeson, Howeston, Howstoun, Huison and many more.

Early Notables of the Hughson family

More information is included under the topic Early Hughson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hughson family to Ireland

Some of the Hughson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hughson migration to the United States +

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Hughson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Elizabeth Hughson, aged 22, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 1

Canada Hughson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hughson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. James Hughson U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
  • Mr. James Hughson Sr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
  • Mr. Joshua Hughson U.E. born in New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 2
  • Mr. Nathaniel Hughson U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
  • Mr. Nathaniel Hughson U.E., "Huston" who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 2
Hughson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Hughson U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1812 he served in the Loyal American Regiment he did not stay in New Brunswick at the end of the war he returned to care for family, married to Hannah Lounsbury they had 1 child 2

Australia Hughson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hughson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Barbara Hughson, aged 18, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Joseph Soames" 3

New Zealand Hughson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hughson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Hughson, (b. 1845), aged 30, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 25th November 1875 4
  • Mrs. Hughson, (b. 1852), aged 23, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 25th November 1875 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Hughson (post 1700) +

  • Tex Hughson (1916-1993), American Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played with the Boston Red Sox from 1941 to 1949
  • Nathaniel Hughson (1755-1837), American UEL who was one of the founders of Hamilton, Ontario
  • Ursula Hughson (b. 1992), Australian women's footballer
  • Les Hughson (1907-1985), Australian rules footballer who played from 1927 to 1937, brother of Fred Hughson
  • Jim Hughson (b. 1956), Canadian television sportscaster, known for his play-by-play of National Hockey League and Toronto Blue Jays baseball games
  • Fred Hughson (b. 1914), Australian rules footballer who played from 1938 to 1947 and coached the Fitzroy club from 1943 to 1947
  • William Hughson Golding (1845-1916), American founder of Golding & Company, an American type foundry


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOSEPH SOMES / SOAMES 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850JosephSomes.htm
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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