About
Why I Started This Website
I created this website as a place to compile all the efforts and discoveries of my research into one location for our Hudson family. It serves as a hub where family members can come, explore, and learn about the rich history of our ancestors. From ancient origins to modern connections, this site is a resource for everyone in our family to gain a deeper understanding of who we are and where we come from.
About My Genealogy Journey
The journey to uncover the Hudson family’s history began in my early 20s, inspired by my Uncle Ken, who was the family historian. He had spent years researching our roots, even traveling back to England to meet family members. I put the family history on the back burner for a while, but when I reached my 30s, my curiosity reignited. That’s when I subscribed to Ancestry, eager to dig deeper into our lineage and build our family tree.
One discovery stands out as a lesson in genealogy. For years, we believed that my great-grandmother, Mary Ann Gray, was born in India because her father, Thomas Gray, had served in the British military there. I found records for a Mary Ann Gray, whose father, Thomas, was also in the military stationed in India and added them to my tree. It seemed like a match. But one day, I received a message from someone on Ancestry who had also added Mary Ann Gray to his tree. After exchanging a few emails, we realized that the Mary Ann Gray in both our trees was actually his ancestor—not mine.
That’s when I took a step back and began cross-checking my research. I eventually found a death record for my great-aunt Sylvia Hudson, which revealed that her mother, Mary Ann Gray, had been born in Cavan, Ireland, not India. I also found Mary Ann’s departure record from Ireland, her arrival in New York, and her marriage to my great-grandfather, Carlisle Hudson, in New York. This experience taught me an invaluable lesson: genealogy is about verification. It’s easy to be led down the wrong path, so cross-referencing and digging deeper are essential.
Another family story claimed that the Hudsons were from Manchester, and one was a ship captain. Through research, I was able to disprove this. Instead, the records showed that our family was from North Dalton, Yorkshire, and had lived there for generations.
Having my dad take the AncestryDNA test also played a huge role in my research, especially when it came to the Price side of the family. The results allowed me to distinguish which modern ethnicities came from the Hudson and Price sides, offering a clearer picture of our family’s origins and migration patterns.
Let’s Talk About Some History
Irish, Scots, and English: Modern Connections
Though distinct today, the Irish, Scots, and English have shared a complex history of cultural exchange, conflict, and migration.
- Ireland: The modern Irish are largely descended from ancient Celtic tribes, primarily the Gaels. However, Viking, Norman, and English settlers have influenced them throughout history. The Gray family, for example, hails from County Cavan in Ireland, a region with strong Gaelic roots.
- Scotland: Similarly, the Scots, particularly the Gaelic Scots, share a deep connection with Ireland. The Scottish Gaelic culture originated from the migration of the Gaels from Ireland to Scotland around the 5th century. Our McNeil line, part of the McNeils of Barra, represents these deep Gaelic roots. Even though Alexander McNeil was born in Northern Ireland, his ancestors were likely part of the great Scottish migration to Ulster that saw 50,000 Scots move to Northern Ireland in the 1690s.
- England: The modern English population is an amalgamation of various ancient peoples, including the Briton Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans. The Hudson family has long been rooted in Yorkshire, England, which was heavily influenced by both Viking settlers and Norman rulers.
These three nations are forever intertwined, their histories reflecting centuries of shared cultures, migrations, and invasions.
The Scandinavian Influence: Vikings and Germanic Tribes
The DNA results on the Price side revealed strong ties to Scandinavian and Germanic Europe. These connections reflect ancient migrations and invasions that shaped the British Isles.
- Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Norway): The Vikings, originating from these regions, had a profound influence on the British Isles. Viking settlers not only raided but also established permanent communities, particularly in England and Ireland. Viking ancestry is evident in the DNA of many families in the British Isles, including ours, through the Price family’s Scandinavian roots.
- Germany: The Germanic tribes, such as the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, migrated to England during the 5th and 6th centuries, laying the foundations for Anglo-Saxon England. Anglo-Saxon culture heavily influenced England’s language, customs, and societal structure. The Price family has strong roots in Kent, which was a stronghold for Anglo-Saxons for centuries.
Normans and Vikings: The Conquerors
The Normans, descendants of Vikings who settled in northern France (Normandy), invaded England in 1066 under William the Conqueror. They brought a blend of Viking and French influence, reshaping England’s political landscape.
- Normans: Our Price family has traces of Norman ancestry, which connects back to the Viking settlers who ruled Normandy. The Norman conquest marked a pivotal moment in English history, bringing with it a feudal system and architectural advancements. Many people in Britain are descended from Normans.
- Vikings: The Viking legacy is deeply embedded in the DNA of the British Isles. Both the Hudson and Price families reflect Viking influence through Scandinavian and Norman ancestry, as Vikings settled in many areas, particularly in Yorkshire, where the Hudsons lived for generations.
The Germanic Connection
One key link between these groups is their shared Germanic origins. The Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans all have roots in the ancient Germanic tribes of northern Europe. Over centuries, these Germanic peoples migrated across Europe, settling in what would become Germany, Scandinavia, and Britain.
The Anglo-Saxon, Norman, and Viking components of our DNA are all intertwined with the history of these ancient Germanic tribes. This shared heritage has left a lasting imprint on the cultures and populations of England, Ireland, and Scotland, tying us to a much broader European legacy.
Why Doesn’t Norman Appear in the DNA Results?
You might be wondering why Norman doesn’t appear as a separate category in the DNA results. The answer lies in how DNA is categorized and interpreted. While the Normans significantly impacted England after their conquest in 1066, their DNA is often grouped under the broader category of England & Northwestern Europe. This is because the Normans were originally Viking settlers who had integrated into the population of northern France (Normandy) before invading England. Over time, Norman DNA became part of the general English genetic pool, blending with the Anglo-Saxon and Viking populations already present in England.
So, even though Norman DNA might not appear as a distinct category, it’s likely included in the English DNA results, reflecting the historical blending of these populations.
Tools I Used for Research
MorleyDNA.com Y-SNP Subclade Predictor
This tool helped me predict my most recent Y-DNA haplogroup.
Link to tool
Family Tree DNA’s Y-DNA Test and Discover Tool
I used this tool to verify my Y-DNA haplogroup to look up detailed information on Haplogroup R-BY12191 and to trace my Y-DNA lineage.
Link to tool
Ancestry.ca
This is where it all began. I started by entering known information about my family and then explored birth, marriage, death, and census records to build the family tree.
Link to Ancestry.ca
AncestryDNA
Taking Ancestry’s DNA test and having my dad take it as well allowed me to distinguish between the Hudson and Price lineages and helped uncover both modern and ancient ethnicities.
Link to AncestryDNA
Various Online History Websites
To deepen my understanding, I turned to several history websites. They helped me learn about ancient civilizations, the haplogroups they belonged to, and their migration paths, especially in the British Isles.