Judson

Recorded in several forms including Judkin and Jugging, and the patronymics Judson, Judgkins and Juggings, this is an English medieval 14th century surname. It is in basis a derivative of the personal name Jordan, itself from the ancient Hebrew and biblical name "Yarden" meaning "to descend". The name was brought back to Europe by Crusaders returning from their efforts to free the Holy Land for the Muslim, a mission in which despite at least twelve attempts, they were unsuccessful. However it became the fashion in the Middle Ages for these warriors and pilgrims to give their subsequent children names associated with the birth of Christianity or Ancient Greece, in honour of the fathers efforts. It is said that in some cases the surname derives from another given name of similar origins. This is or rather was, Jude, from the Hebrew male given name "Yehuda" of uncertain origins. Early examples of the (sur)name recordings include: Jordanus presbiter in the charters known as the "Feudal Documents" of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, in Suffolk in 1121, whilst Hugo Jude appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1193. Other recordings include: Grace Judkin who married James Taylor at St Dionis Backchurch, London, in 1677 and Mary Juggins who married Edmund Hall at St George's Chapel, Hanover Square, London, in 1793. Probably the first of all known recordings in any spelling is that of Ricardus Jodson in the Poll Tax rolls of the county of Yorkshire in 1379. 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.