Hudson
Derived from the Old English term for "son of Hudd," referring to a patronymic surname meaning "descendant of Hudd."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 156,810 Americans carry the last name Hudson. That puts it at #214 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 45.75 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,186 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hudson surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
157K
1 in 2,186
Census rank
#214
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
45.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
135K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 134,963 bearers of the surname Hudson in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 45.75 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 214th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hudson, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.9%. The next largest groups are Black (27.4%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hudson
The surname Hudson is of English origin and dates back to the late 11th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words 'hoh' meaning 'heel' and 'dun' meaning 'hill', indicating that the name referred to someone who lived near a heel-shaped hill. The name was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Hoddun' and 'Hodden'.
The earliest known bearer of the name was Radulfus de Hoddun, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. Another early record is of William Hudson from the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279. The surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire during the Middle Ages.
Several notable individuals have borne the surname Hudson throughout history. Henry Hudson (c.1565-1611) was an English sea explorer and navigator who explored parts of present-day Canada and the United States, and for whom the Hudson River and Hudson Bay are named. Jeffery Hudson (1619-1682) was an English courtier who was famously known as the 'Queen's Dwarf' at the court of Queen Henrietta Maria.
Other prominent bearers of the name include the English philosopher and mathematician William Hudson (1730-1793), the American actor Rock Hudson (1925-1985), and the English musician and lead singer of the band Oasis, Liam Hudson (born 1972). The Hudson surname has also been associated with various places, such as Hudson, New York, and Hudson County, New Jersey, both named after Henry Hudson.
Over time, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Hodson, Hoddson, and Hudsson, reflecting regional dialects and evolving pronunciation. While the name has spread worldwide due to migration, its origins can be traced back to the hills and villages of medieval England.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hudson
Among Census respondents with the surname Hudson, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.9%. The next largest groups are Black (27.4%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Hudson bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hudson surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White66.9%
- Black or African American27.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races2.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hudson surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #202 | #214 | -5.9% |
| Count | 130,793 | 134,963 | 3.2% |
| Per 100K | 48.48 | 45.75 | -5.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Hudson bearers went from 130,793 to 134,963 (+3.2% change). The surname moved down 12 positions in the national ranking, going from #202 to #214.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hudson
FAQ
Hudson surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hudson?
The surname Hudson holds position #214 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 156,810 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 45.75 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hudson surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hudson, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.9%. The next largest groups are Black (27.4%) and Hispanic (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.