Hutcheon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The story of the Hutcheon family stretches back through time to the Viking settlers who populated the rugged shores of Scotland in the Medieval era. The name Hutcheon was derived from Huchon, a diminutive form of Hugh. 1 Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. This name is the equivalent of Hugh in the vernacular of Scotland. Today, the plural form of the name is more popular as in "Hutchins" or "Hutchens," but years ago the singular form was far more common.

Early Origins of the Hutcheon family

The surname Hutcheon was first found in Ross-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rois), a former county now part of the Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles in Northern Scotland, which emerged from the Gaelic lordship of the Earl of Ross, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

The variants Hutcheon and Hutchon were the most common spellings used in both forenames and surnames in Scotland, as we shall soon see.

"Huchon was used in the thirteenth century instead of Huon as the regular oblique case of Hue. In Scotland during the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries Hutcheoun (ch sibilant) regularly appears as a Christian name, the equivalent of Hugh or Hew in the vernacular. Hucheon Fraser, Lord of the Lovet is mentioned in 1422 and in 1510 a succeeding Lord Lowat is named Heow. Huchon Ker appears in 1467, and Huchown the Ross, 1481." 2

Just over the border in Yorkshire, England the Yorkshire Poll Tax had two entries for the family: Isabella Huchon, doghter; and Willelmus Huchon. 3 In Somerset, John Huchoun was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

Early History of the Hutcheon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hutcheon research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1471, 1481, 1494, 1497, 1525, 1547, 1548, 1558, 1565, 1576, 1577, 1581, 1590, 1596, 1598, 1602, 1612, 1628, 1629, 1639, 1641, 1642, 1693, 1698, 1705, 1734, 1773 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hutcheon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hutcheon Spelling Variations

Standards used to judge the accuracy of spellings and translations did not yet exist in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations in names dating from that era, are thus, an extremely common occurrence. Hutcheon has been recorded as Hutchins, Hutchings, Hutchin, Hutcheon, Huchens, Hutcheons, Hutchon, Houchin, Houchen, Houchens, MacCutcheon, MacQuestion and many more.

Early Notables of the Hutcheon family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Edward Hutchins (1558?-1629), English divine, born about 1558 of poor parents, was, according to Wood, a native of Denbighshire. About 1576 he matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford: he graduated B.A. 1577, and proceeded M.A. 1581 and B.D. 1590. 5Sir George Hutchins (d. 1705), king's...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hutcheon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hutcheon family to Ireland

Some of the Hutcheon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hutcheon migration to Canada +

The New World was far from the oppressive regime of the old country. It was a place where there was more land than people and political and religious freedom were far easier to come by. Many Scots even got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. In recent years, interest in this heritage has been generated by Clan societies and regular highland games in North America. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Hutcheon name:

Hutcheon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Hutcheon, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Neptune" in 1834

Contemporary Notables of the name Hutcheon (post 1700) +

Paul Hutcheon, Scottish political journalist, awarded both Journalist of the Year and Political Journalist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards in 2006
Duncan Selby Hutcheon (b. 1879), Canadian provincial politician, MLA Arm River, Saskatchewan (1929-1934)
Ernest Henry Hutcheon (1889-1937), Australian sportsman who played first-class cricket with Queensland and represented Australasia in standing high jump at the 1908 Summer Olympics
David Hutcheon, Canadian former municipal politician in Toronto, Ontario
Linda Hutcheon O.C. (b. 1947), Canadian academic working in the fields of literary theory and criticism, opera, and Canadian Studies
Michael Hutcheon, Canadian medical doctor and author, a specialist in respirology

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print