Hutchcraft History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of HutchcraftWhat does the name Hutchcraft mean? The name Hutchcraft is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes from the baptismal name Richard. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honor of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures. Early Origins of the Hutchcraft familyThe surname Hutchcraft was first found in Hertfordshire at Hitchin, a market town and parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Hitchin and Pirton. 1 The place name pre-dates the Norman Conquest as the first record the place was found c. 945 as Hiccam. By the time of the Domesday Book, the town was known as Hiz, and literally meant "place in the territory of the tribe called Hicce. " 2 The river Hiz is nearby and no doubt the river's name was derived from the same. As far as the surname is concerned, the first record of the name was John Hichum who was listed in the Rotuli Hundredorum of 1279 in Oxfordshire. A few years later, the name Hichoun was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1286. 3 Early History of the Hutchcraft familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hutchcraft research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1321, 1332, 1665, 1675 and 1727 are included under the topic Early Hutchcraft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hutchcraft Spelling VariationsOnly recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Hutchcraft has undergone many spelling variations, including Hitchins, Hitchen, Hitchens, Hitchin, Hitchings, Hitchins, Hitching and many more. Early Notables of the Hutchcraft familyMore information is included under the topic Early Hutchcraft Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hutchcraft RankingIn the United States, the name Hutchcraft is the 18,644th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4 Migration of the Hutchcraft familyTo escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hutchcraft were among those contributors: John Hitchens settled in Virginia in 1654; Arthur Hitchens settled in Maine in 1616 four years before the "Mayflower"; Margaret and Anne Hitchens settled in Barbados in 1663.
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