Surname Hutcheson - Meaning and Origin

Discovering A Diverse Legacy: My Ancestral Journey with iGENEA DNA Testing

Embarking on an innate journey with iGENEA DNA testing led me down an unexpected path of discovery. While previously holding a conviction of my family, the Hutchesons, being deeply of Scottish descent, the findings presented a richly intricate tapestry of cultural diversity and hinted at ancient familial origins that reshaped my understanding of our heritage.

C. Hutcheson

Hutcheson: What does the surname Hutcheson mean?

The last name Hutcheson is of Scottish origin. It is a patronymic surname, which means it's derived from the first name of the father, such as Hutch or Hugh, and the suffix "-son" meaning "son of". Therefore, Hutcheson basically means "son of Hutch" or "son of Hugh". Hugh itself is a popular first name in Medieval England, adopted from the Old French name Hugues which was often used by the Normans in the periods around the 12th and 13th centuries. Hugues is derived from the Germanic word hug, meaning "heart, mind" or "spirit". In general, the surname Hutcheson is common in regions of Scotland and Northern Ireland, reflecting the cultural and historical ties of these regions. Patronymic surnames like Hutcheson were typically used to demonstrate family relationships and lineages during the periods when they were first formed.

Hutcheson: Where does the name Hutcheson come from?

The surname Hutcheson is of Scottish origin, derived from the medieval personal name Hugh or Hutche, with the suffix 'son' indicating 'son of Hutche'. The first recorded spelling of this family name is shown to be that of John Hutcheson dated about 1447, in the "Register of the Great Seal of Scotland", during the reign of King James II of Scotland.

There seems to be a significant concentration of the Hutcheson surname in the United Kingdom, primarily in Northern Ireland and Scotland, as per data from ancestry.com. In the United States, the name is also common and is found most frequently in the southern and midwestern states as per the 1920 US Federal Census data.

Thus, overall, the surname Hutcheson is most common today in areas with a significant Scottish diaspora, being most prevalent in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, it can be found in many other countries around the world due to global migration.

Variations of the surname Hutcheson

The surname Hutcheson has several variants and spellings that have evolved over time due to various regional accents and the way names were originally recorded. Some of the common variants include Hutchison, Hutchinson, Hutchenson, Hutchens, Hutches, and Hutchins.

Since the surname essentially translates to "son of Hugh," any version with that meaning could be considered a variant. So, a name like Hugheson, Hughson, or even Huchinson could be considered related.

In Scotland, it is common to use "Mac" as a prefix for "son of," so MacHugh can be considered a related surname. In regions where Gaelic was spoken, the original versions of the name could have been MacÙisdein or MacÙisdean - both meaning son of Ùisdean (the Gaelic form of Hugh).

Additionally, the surname evolved differently in various regions resulting in different spellings. This way, the surname Hutchison is common in Scotland, while in England it's typically spelled as Hutchinson.

It's also worth noting that the patronymic nature of the name means there are likely extremely similar surnames in many languages, like the Spanish version, "Huguesón," or the Dutch version, "Huijson."

Famous people with the name Hutcheson

• William Hutcheson (British statesman from the 20th century)
• Andrew Hutcheson (Victorian artist of the mid-19th century)
• Edward Hutcheson (Irish Member of Parliament and first Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1613)
• Martha Hutcheson (American author and peace activist from the early 20th century)
• Heather Hutcheson (British epidemiologist and Professor of Medicine)
• Marcia Hutcheson (Canadian actress)
• Gordon Hutcheson (Scottish actor, director, and theatre producer)
• Joseph Hutcheson (Founder of Hutcheson & Co, Scotland’s oldest running legal firm, around 1749)
• Peggy Hutcheson (American novelist and non-fiction author)
• Leonard Hutcheson (American psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego)

Other surnames

HaachHaackHaackeHaackerHaafHaaffHaagHaageHaagenHaagerHaagmannHaagmansHaagnerHaahsHaakHaakeHaakerHaakertHaamannHaameaHaanHaaneHaanenHaarbrandtHaarckeHaarkeHaarmannHaartjeHaarwaldtHaas