Ancestral Family Timeline
Our family’s story in the British Isles goes back an incredible 4,000 years, starting long before surnames even existed. Here’s how our journey unfolded through the ages, as passed down through our Y-DNA, one generation at a time.
The Bell Beaker Ancestors – Arriving in England
Our ancestors first arrived in what is now England around 2600 BCE. This was during the time of the Bell Beaker culture, one of the first groups to bring bronze tools and pottery to the British Isles. These ancestors were part of a huge migration of people who spread across Europe, carrying the R1b-M269 haplogroup. They settled in England, bringing new technologies and laying the foundations for what would eventually become the Bronze Age. So, yes, we’ve had roots in England for over four millennia!
2600 BCE – 1000 BCE
Becoming Celtic Britons
Over time, our Bell Beaker ancestors integrated into the growing Celtic Briton culture that was spreading across Britain during the Bronze Age and into the Iron Age. They became part of the ancient Briton Celtic peoples, who inhabited England long before the Roman invasions. During this period, our Y-DNA evolved into R1b-L21, the subclade most closely associated with the Celtic peoples in Britain. So, when you think of the ancient Celts, remember that our family was right there, living in those early societies, crafting tools, and speaking a Celtic language.
1000 BCE – 500 BCE
Gaelic Life in Ireland
For centuries, our ancestors lived as Gaelic Celts in Ireland, thriving in a land rich with history, culture, and mythology. This was the era of Brehon law, clans, and the early Irish kingdoms. Our Y-DNA subclade R-ZZ10_1 places our family firmly in Ireland during this time. By around 900 CE, our direct paternal line had fully integrated into the Gaelic tribes, shaping the land and its history. It was around this time that our haplogroup further evolved into R-BY12191.
500 BCE – 900 CE
Returning to England
At some point between 900 CE and 1273 CE, our ancestors returned to England from Ireland. This was likely during the medieval period, a time of great movement between Ireland and Britain. By the time we get to 1273 CE, the first written record of the Hudson surname appears with William Hudde in Cambridgeshire. Our family had re-established itself in England, and it’s likely that William Hudde or his son would have been the first in our family to adopt the Hudson surname. Our Y-DNA, still following the path of R-BY12191, connects us directly to these medieval ancestors.
900 CE – 1273 CE
Life in Yorkshire
Between 1273 CE and 1750 CE, our family thrived in Yorkshire, England. Over the generations, we passed down the Hudson name and became deeply rooted in the region. By the 18th and 19th centuries, we find ancestors like Thomas Hudson and his descendants living in North Dalton, working as farmers and contributing to the community.
1273 CE – 1834 CE
A New Chapter in Canada
Then, in 1834, William Hudson, born in 1809, and his wife Elizabeth Wilkinson made the brave decision to emigrate to Canada, starting a new chapter of our family’s history. After settling in Otonabee Township, Ontario, they had their children, marking the beginning of our family’s Canadian journey. This decision to leave their home in Yorkshire and build a new life across the Atlantic laid the foundation for the generations that would follow in Canada, shaping the modern Hudson family.
1834 CE – Present