Recorded in a number of spellings including Hewitson, Hewetson, Hewertson, Hewison, Huetson and Huison, this is an English surname, much associated in its early days with Yorkshire. It is however of French introduction, and a patronymic of the surname Hewitt. This is derived from the medieval given name "Huet", itself a diminutive form of the male personal name "Hugh". This name was introduced into Britain by the Norman-French after the Conquest of 1066, in the Old French forms of Hughe and Hue, which were adopted from the Old Gallic element "hug", meaning heart, mind, or spirit. This was used as the first element in various Germanic compound names such as "Hubble", meaning heart-brave, and "Hubert", heart famous. Early examples of the surname recording include Richard Hewetsone in the list of the freemen of York in 1363, and Richard Huetson also of York, but in the Poll Tax rolls of 1379. The marriage of Thomas Hewitson and Mary Andrews was recorded at St. James's, Duke's Place, Westminster, on December 8th 1681. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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