Show ContentsMcQuestion History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Viking settlers in ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name McQuestion. It comes 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 McQuestion family

The surname McQuestion 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 McQuestion family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McQuestion 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 McQuestion History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McQuestion Spelling Variations

Translation and spelling were non-standardized practices in the Middle Ages, so scribes had only their ears to rely on. This was a practice of extremely limited efficiency, and spelling variations in names, even within a single document, were the result. Over the years, McQuestion has appeared Hutchins, Hutchings, Hutchin, Hutcheon, Huchens, Hutcheons, Hutchon, Houchin, Houchen, Houchens, MacCutcheon, MacQuestion and many more.

Early Notables of the McQuestion 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 McQuestion Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the McQuestion family to Ireland

Some of the McQuestion 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.


United States McQuestion migration to the United States +

The fertile east coast of what would become US and Canada was soon dotted with the farms of Scottish settlers. Some of them remained faithful to the crown and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others had the chance to pay back their old oppressors in the American War of Independence. That brave spirit lives on today in the highland games that dot North America in the summer. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the McQuestion family came to North America quite early:

McQuestion Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • David McQuestion, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 6
  • James McQuestion, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 6
  • Anthony McQuestion, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1775 6
McQuestion Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John McQuestion, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1803 6

Australia McQuestion migration to Australia +

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

McQuestion Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Mcquestion, British Convict who was convicted in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for life, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7

Contemporary Notables of the name McQuestion (post 1700) +

  • Karen McQuestion, American fiction writer who has written books for adults, children and teens, best kn own for her 2013 novel, The Long Way Home


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. 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)
  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)
  4. 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.
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. 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)
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland


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