National Houston Day on July 25 honours the strength and vitality of the name Houston, which derives from the west coast of Scotland’s highlands. Did you know that the name Houston derives from the French masculine name Hugo? The origins of Houston, pronounced “HEW-ston,” are Irish, Gaelic, and Old English. The meaning of Houston in Old English is “the settlement belonging to Hugh.” Houston is predominantly a masculine name, and in the United States it is used as both a surname and a geographic name. Whitney Houston (American vocalist), Wyatt Houston (American football player), Sam Houston (Texas independence hero), and Fitz Houston (American actor) are notable individuals with the surname Houston.
The background of National Houston Day
Houston is a Scottish surname originating from the highlands of the west coast of Scotland and the Hebrides. Hugh, a mediaeval Scottish given name, was the English-language variant of Hugo, a Continental Germanic given name. The Houston family descended from this name. Houston derives from the Germanic term ‘hug’ (mind, spirit) and the Middle English word ‘tun’ (town, settlement).
Hugh and Hugo’ were adopted as first names by the French aristocracy, who were enamoured with their meaning, in Mediaeval France. People with the given name Hugh or Hugo were regarded as intelligent or brilliant in mind, heart, and spirit. After the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066, the French introduced the names to English in the 11th century. The veneration of Saint Hugh of Lincoln and Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln during the 12th and 13th centuries enhanced the name’s popularity among English speakers. The French diminutive of Hugh, Huchon, was subsequently gaelicized by Scots to Mac Ulstean, which means “the son of Hugh.” This gave rise to the Clan Hugh in Scotland. In the late 13th century, the surname first appeared in Scotland with the spelling ‘de Hustone.’
Houston, Texas, was founded in 1836 by Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen. The municipality was named after the first president of Texas, Sam Houston. Houston was descended from Scottish and Irish settlers who arrived in Colonial America during the 1730s. He was one of the key figures who contributed to Texas’s independence from Mexico, and he subsequently served as a U.S. senator and Texas governor.
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NATIONAL HOUSTON DAY ACTIVITIES
Send your greetings via social media
On National Houston Day, the easiest thing you can do is to send your best wishes to all Houstons around the globe. And the ideal location for this is social media. Use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok to send National Houston Day greetings to Houstonians.
Bring a Houston to lunch.
Do you have a Houston or Hugh (similar to Houston) friend? National Houston Day is a celebration of their greatness. So transport them to their favourite restaurant or hangout for lunch.
Visit Houston
Houston is most widely recognised as the name of a city in the United States. To commemorate National Houston Day, travel to Houston and have the most enjoyable time. You can experience a variety of tourist attractions, such as the Space Centre, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Toyota Centre, and Discovery Green.
5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HOUSTON
Houston, Texas is the global capital of space exploration, air conditioning, the international energy industry, petroleum exploration, and the death penalty.
Sam Houston, a Texas independence hero and the first president of the Republic of Texas, is honoured with the naming of Houston.
Houston’s Livestock Show and Rodeo is the world’s largest rodeo.
Home to the largest medical centre in the globe
The Texas Medical Centre in Houston is the largest in the globe, with over 1,000 acres and 54 medical institutions.
The Astrodome, constructed in 1965, is the first multipurpose domed sports stadium in the globe.
NATIONAL HOUSTON DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 25 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | July 25 | Thursday |
| 2025 | July 25 | Friday |
| 2026 | July 25 | Saturday |
| 2027 | July 25 | Sunday |
