This very unusual English name is a dialectual transposition which derives from 'The son of Hugg' - a patronymic nickname form of Hugh and usually found as Huggett (Little Hugg). A similar transposition, although not as rare is Chubb, which was originally 'The Son of Job' until sharpened into the medieval form. The modern spelling is probably from Devon/Somerset, as with CFhubb, although the orginiations is Yorkshire. The development includes Henriciet ugge, 1212, The Kings Rolls for Yorkshire, and Galfridus Fils Hugg 1301, Yorkshire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Hugge. which was dated 1180, The Yorkshire Pipe Rolls. during the reign of King Henry II, the Builder, 1154 - 1189. 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.