Show ContentsJude History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

As an Irish surname, Jude was the translation of the Irish Gaelic Mac an Bhreitheamhnaigh. This same name was also anglicized and became MacEvrehoona, MacVrehonne, MacBrehon, and others.

Early Origins of the Jude family

The surname Jude was first found in County Mayo (Irish: Maigh Eo) located on the West coast of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Connacht, where an Eugene MacBrehan was the Bishop of Mayo from 1541-1561. A Malachy MacBrehuna was the Archdeacon of Kilmacduagh. In counties Sligo and in north Roscommon, there were many registrations of the name which showed that many families were using the Judge and Breheny surnames indiscriminately.

Early History of the Jude family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jude research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1260 and 1296 are included under the topic Early Jude History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jude Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Judge, Juge, Jude and others.

Early Notables of the Jude family

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

Jude Ranking

In the United States, the name Jude is the 2,869th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Jude family to Ireland

Some of the Jude family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Jude migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jude Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Peter Jude, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 2
Jude Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Jude, who settled in Powhatan Co. VA in 1777
Jude Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Jude, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1850
  • Joh Heinr Jude, who settled in North America in 1882
  • M. Kath Vieth Jude, who settled in North America in 1884
  • Ephriam Jude, who arrived in Michigan in 1884

Australia Jude migration to Australia +

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

Jude Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Jude, (b. 1817), aged 26, English miller who was convicted in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Jude (post 1700) +

  • Victor Jude, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1964 4
  • Tad Jude, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Minnesota 6th District, 1994, 1996 4
  • George W. Jude, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Chautauqua County 1st District, 1913 4
  • Bernard J. Jude, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1952 4
  • David Jude Jolicoeur (1968-2023), also known under the stage name Trugoy the Dove, Plug 2 and Dave, an American rapper, producer, and one third of the hip hop group De La Soul
  • Sir Gerrard Jude Robinson (1948-2021), Irish-born British business executive and television presenter, non-executive chairman of Allied Domecq and chairman/chief executive of Granada
  • Wayne Jude Matherne (b. 1949), American retired Canadian football player for the BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos (1971-1976); he won the Grey Cup with Edmonton in 1975
  • Richard Jude Ciccolella (b. 1947), American character actor, best known for his role as Mike Novick on 24
  • Burt Jude Lancon (b. 1960), American pair skater who won the silver medal at the 1982 United States Figure Skating Championships
  • River Jude Phoenix (1970-1993), born River Jude Bottom, an American film actor, musician, and activist


The Jude 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: Totum est providentia
Motto Translation: All is providence.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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