Surname Hodgens - Meaning and Origin
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Hodgens: What does the surname Hodgens mean?
The surname Hodgens is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the personal name "Roger," which is itself derived from the Old German words "hrod," meaning "renown," and "geri," meaning "spear." Thus, Hodgens can be loosely translated to mean "son of Roger" or "famous spear." It is believed to have originated from the southern and western counties of England, where variations of the name were first found. The introduction of personal taxation in the form of Poll Tax in the medieval period often led to increases in surname variations, so the name Hodgens might have many different spellings across various historical documents. Like many surnames, it was often given to the son of a man named Roger, or to someone who bore a resemblance to a person named Roger. With time, it transformed into a surname and started getting passed down through generations. Nowadays it is common in several English-speaking nations.
Order DNA origin analysisHodgens: Where does the name Hodgens come from?
The surname Hodgens is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Mac Oibicin" which means "son of the little hunchback." The name later evolved into MacHodgens and eventually into Hodgens as it is known today.
The surname often signifies families with a long history in Galway, in the West of Ireland. Initially, the Hodgens were part of the Gaelic nobility, well before the 12th century when the Ango-Norman invasion of Ireland occurred.
Today, the surname Hodgens can be found across the globe due to the Irish diaspora, and it is most commonly found in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite this dispersion, however, the highest concentration of people with the Hodgens surname still resides in Ireland. It is also quite common in the aforementioned countries, particularly in regions with a high percentage of citizens of Irish descent.
Variations of the surname Hodgens
The surname "Hodgens" can have various spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. These primarily result from the different phonetic pronunciations of the name across different countries and cultures. The most common variants of the surname 'Hodgens' include Hodgins, Hodgson, and Hodson.
Hodgens could possibly be derived from the first name Roger, but has been altered over time. It initially transitioned to 'Hodge', considered as a pet form of Roger, and then through the addition of the suffix -son or -ins carried the meaning 'son of Hodge'. It is mainly a patronymic surname.
Additionally, there could be less common spellings such as Hodgens, Hodgeon, and Hodeson. Even more variations can occur with the addition or omission of the letter 'd', leading to names like Hogson and Hogens.
It's vital to note that spelling variations, even of the same surname, were common until spelling was standardized in recent times, mainly due to the illiteracy of our ancestors and variance in phonetic pronunciation regionally. Thus, in old records, the name may occur in many forms, requiring careful study while researching family history.
Famous people with the name Hodgens
- Dylan O'Brien: American actor, musician, and television personality.
- David Hodgens: British novelist, short story writer, playwright, and screenwriter.
- Spencer Hodgens: American former professional basketball player.
- Rina Hodgens: American singer, songwriter, and actress.
- Heather Hogdens: English author, screenwriter, director, producer, and activist.
- Tom Hodgens: British writer and actor.
- Mark Hodgens: Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Larry Hodgens: American music producer, composer, arranger, and musician.
- Phil Hodgens: Australian journalist and wine writer.
- John Hodgens: Australian singer and songwriter.