From “Place Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire” Vol xxxiii Cambs. Univ. Press 1961
Part Four: Wapentakes of Barkston Ash, Skyrack and Ainsty “Hudeles-tun c.1030 Yorks. Charter 7
“Hudel’s farmstead v.tun
An OE (Old English) personal name Hudel (a deritative in -el of the recorded OE Huda) occurs also in Hudswell (Nth.yorks.) and Huddlestone (Sussex) also OE Hudred (Huddersfield Y)
Sherburn in Elmet appears firstly c.900, meaning “clear, bright stream” Elmet was an old Celtic kingdom, see Barwick in Elmet

Sherburn in Elmet was part of the archiepiscopal estate of the Archbishops of York, supposed to have been granted by Athelstan. ( ruled 924-39.) At the time of the Conquest (1066), the Archbp. was Aldred ,who crowned William at Westminster.

In 1070 the Archbp. was Thomas of Bayeux, royal chaplain and treasurer of Bayeux cathedral. Other estates around Sherburn, including Hunchilhause, (supposedly Huddleston,) were in the possession of Ilbert de Lacy, a Norman from the Calvados region, (d.1093/5) and were part of the Honour of Pontefract. The de Lacy connection continued into the early 14th cent. when Henry de Lacy was Lord of Clitheroe and granted lands to Adam de Huddleston at Billington (Lancs.) Adam was a member of the Millom family.

Nigel, the first recorded member of the family (c.1109/10) when he became a monk at nearby Selby Abbey, and his son Gilbert, (appears 1113/4 and later 1165/74) probably took their name from one of the manors in their possession.

It should be remembered that “where people were called after the name of their land, the bearing of the same name might not mean the least degree of relationship between those similarly styled..” The family that took the name “de Huddleston” appear therefore to have close connections with the Norman barons and Bishops of Bayeux, probably coming from the same region of Normandy. The names “Nigel” and “Gilbert” are Norman.

Both Gilbert, and a Richard, now named de Huddleston, had property at Clementhorpe (outside York) 1175. They also had land at Hillam , Wetwang and Poppleton . Richard, son of Richard appears 1199x1214 in the “Feet of Fines”.

A Richard (c. 1198-1250) is said to have married Alicia, dau. of William, son of Henry, of Garthorpe. The Hudlestons had lands in Garthorpe 1223 and their later successor John de Meaux/Melsa, who had marr. Beatrix dau. of Richard, did homage to the Archbp.c.1298, for lands in Huddleston, Gowthorpe /Garthorpe and Youlthorpe, (the latter East of York) which presumably came with the marriage of Richard and Alicia and which John de Meaux had inherited with Beatrix.

This Sir Richard was the father of Richard , Beatrix (de Meaux) d c.1287,and John, c.1222-1252, who marr. Joan de Boyville, of Millom Cumberland., and probably Robert. The younger Sir Richard died childless in c.1285, when the estates went to Beatrix and her husband (though some references say he sold the lands to John and Beatrix)

John de Hudleston 2nd. of Millom tried to claim Huddleston in 1287 from John de Melsa/Meaux (after the death of Beatrix) but he was unsuccessful, and by 1304 the estates had passed to the Grenefields and other families.

OTHER POSSIBLE DESCENDANTS of the ORIGINAL FAMILY appearing in mediaeval Yorkshire documents and as yet unconnected.

1. 1251 Gilbert and Alice Yorkshire Fines re. a messuage in Pontefract.
2.1259 Gilbert on the Assize Roll.
3. 1312/13 Gilbert, son of Gilbert in a lawsuit
4. 1277 Robert a witness to a deed at Shippen (near Barwick in Elmet)
5. 1297 Robert
6. 1309 Robert at Garforth
7. 1342 Walter de Huddleston v. Richard Okavon. Assault at Sherburn
8. 1340 William and Alice…a cottage at Wistow.
9. 1379 William Subsidy roll of Wistow.
10. 1370 William a witness at Lazingcroft (near Barwick in Elmet)
11. 1379 William Poll Tax of Garforth
12. 1379 Peter de Huddleston Poll tax at Almondbury
13 1388 William of West Garforth granting lands and tenements to William, Vicar of Rothwell.
14.1398 William of West Garforth.

Some of these Christian names might give a clue or two to English researchers. These Huddlestons seem to have stayed in and around Leeds and West Yorkshire, and must have been “men of some substance” . There are still more to be “unearthed “in Yorkshire documents. Some appear in wills in the 15th. and 16th. cents. and early Parish registers . Those above are recorded in the York Minster Library/York Archaelogical Trust Biographical Data-Base.
Also FW Colman “History of Barwick in Elmet” Thoresby Soc.
W. Wheater “History of Sherburn and Cawood”
“The Huddlestons” by a Huddleston for the Huddlestons
Selby Abbey Coucher Book
Victoria County History of Yorkshire
Information from the Society of Genealogists.
Family papers and several other books.