The surname Hutchison is of English and Scottish origin. The name is derived from the medieval given name Huchin, a diminutive of Hugh. The surname thus comes to signify 'the son of Hugh'. The name is chiefly a North English one as Hugh was adopted as a Christian name in Scotland where it also became a surname and was adopted in Gaelic as Huisdean or Uisdean.
Jane Hutchison is one of our earliest known Hutchison ancestors in Australia and her history has presented research challenges.
On the marriage certificate of Jane's son William Joseph Hutchison his parents are recorded as William Hutchison and Jane Walkham (Walkem). This is believed to be incorrect. Following research carried out by others, it is believed that William Joseph (and his sister Janet) were born to an unmarried Jane Hutchison prior to her marriage to Mark Henry Walkem.
The Hutchison family had immigrated to Australia in 1855 on the ship Anna: father William, who was a stonemason in Scotland, mother Anne, Jane and her five siblings. Little is currently known about William and Anne's life in Australia.
Jane's son, William Joseph Hutchison was born in Bowenfels but by the time he married Mary Ann Malley in 1883 he was working as a carter in Hunter Street Sydney. The family then settled in the Redfern area.