The HITCHON One-Name Study began in 1983 by inviting all the HITCHONs listed in the UK phone books to complete a family history questionnaire. The questionnaire was accompanied by a small newsletter showing where they lived and a stamped addressed envelope. Response was very encouraging and 30 were returned. From each of these small family trees were drawn and it quickly appeared that some families were related to others. These trees were further combined and now are fitted into 6 large trees which I have been trying to link for over 40 years. There are also two New Zealand trees and a couple of other big trees.

When searching for the surname HITCHON it was found that many transcription errors of HITCHEN and HITCHIN had occurred. A deviation due to a joker switching from an -ON ending to -OFF was also found, so I have a few HITCHOFFs. Further back in time HYTCHYN was another alternative spelling.

HITCHON, according to most authorities, is derived from Richard, which in Norman times was one of the four most popular names used by the Barons. No names that are vaguely similar to HITCHON have been found in the Domesday Book. Richard it is said was first shortened to RICHE or RICK by the peasants. Due to local differences in pronunciation, dialect and the difficulty some have in pronouncing their Rs it changed from RICHE to HITCHE or from RICK to DICK. The earliest reference so far found is to HICCHE Venator R in 1202 Huntingdonshire Pipe Rolls. (Venator R = King’s Hunter)

Amongst those with the surname are several with Military Medals, some OBEs and Sophie HITCHON who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, she is also the UK Women's record holder for Hammer throwing. Nicholas HITCHON has appeared every 7 years on the TV show "7 UP" and the public have been able to follow his life story.

From the UK phone directories in 1983 the majority of HITCHONs were living in the Burnley area of North East Lancashire. Research into all the censuses from 1841 to 1921 for UK shows a similar distribution and further back in time (pre 1837) the English Parish Registers do the same. However, now in the 21st century members of the family have migrated around the world and there are currently large groups of the family in Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

DNA research into the family has hardly begun and only two persons with the surname have been tested and as they are closely related, the results are of no genealogical value or significance.<!--more--