Hutcheon

Recorded in many forms including Huchen, Huchin, Hutchen, Hutchin, Hutcheon, and others, this is an Anglo-Scottish surname of French origins. Probably introduced by the Normans at the Conquest of England in 1066 it is a diminutive spelling of the medieval given name Hugh, a popular name through northern Europe in the Middle Ages. The origination is the Germanic word "hug", meaning heart or spirit. The names Hugh and Huchin were introduced into England in the spellings of Hue, Huecon or Huchon and soon generated their own variant forms in both England and Scotland. Hutchins and Hutchings are peculiarly West Country spellings but however spelt the name means "son of Hutchin". Since medieval times the name development has included John Huchouns of the county of Essex in 1327, and Cecily Howchyngs of Norfolk in 1523. Amongst the sample recordings in London are one Elizabeth Hutcheon who married Thomas Atkinson, on July 7th 1659 at the church of St. Gregory by St. Paul's, and Issabell Hotchin who married John Watton on November 10th 1670, at St. James Clerkenwell. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert Huchun. This was dated 1296, in the Subsidy Tax Rolls of Sussex, during the reign of King Edward Ist known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.