Surname Hodgkinson - Meaning and Origin

Hodgkinson: What does the surname Hodgkinson mean?

The surname Hodgkinson is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a patronymic form of the medieval personal name "Hodge", itself a diminutive of both "Roger" and "Hugh". The "-kin" is a diminutive suffix meaning "little" or "son of", often added to personal names, while the "-son" denotes 'son of'. Therefore, the meaning of Hodgkinson can be interpreted as "son of little Hodge". Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation, and in England, this practice was known as Poll Tax. The origination of such patronymic names often derived from the father’s name, an occupation, or a specific characteristic trait. This practice was commonly used in many European countries, including England, during the Middle Ages. However, variations in the spelling of surnames were frequent due to an absence of spelling rules. The name Hodgkinson is mainly found in the English counties of Lancashire and Nottinghamshire.

Hodgkinson: Where does the name Hodgkinson come from?

The surname Hodgkinson is of English origin, deriving from the male personal name Roger. It's a patronymic form, meaning "son of Roger," with Hodg being an old diminutive of Roger and -kin denoting 'son'. The suffix -son is typically found in names from the northern and eastern regions of England. Therefore, the name roughly translates to "son of little Roger."

The formation of the name dates back to medieval times; it's believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, where the family held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. Studies suggest the first recorded spelling of the family name is that of Ricardus Hoge, which was dated around 1275, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire," during the reign of King Edward I.

Today, this surname is most common in English-speaking countries, particularly the United Kingdom, with a significant number of bearers possibly located in the region of its origin, Yorkshire. It's also encountered in places such as the United States, Canada, and Australia due to the British diaspora.

Variations of the surname Hodgkinson

The surname Hodgkinson originally derives from England and likely originated from the formerly popular male given name of "Roger", combined with the suffix "-kin" implying relative. The “Hodg” part of the name might have been a nickname for someone who bore a resemblance to a Roger, or alternately, it could stem from “Hodge,” a medieval diminutive of the name Roger.

Hodgkinson can be found with various spellings based on phonetic translations and regional variations. Some of these alternative spellings and variants include Hodgkison, Hodkinson, Hodson, Hodgskin, Hodgkynson, Hodgshon, and Hodgskinson. Surnames of the same linguistic root may include Hodgson and Hutchinson. These variations developed due to the lack of spelling standardization during the Middle Ages, leading people to document names as they sounded, resulting in such abundant variation.

Different branches of the same family sometimes adopted different surname spellings, including immigrating family members adapting the spelling to better fit the phonetic style of another language. For instance, a Hodgkinson moving to a non-English-speaking country might have altered the spelling or pronunciation of their surname to accommodate the language norms of their new homeland.

Famous people with the name Hodgkinson

• Bill Hodgkinson (Australian cricket umpire and Secretary/CEO of Cricket NSW)
• Barbara Hodgkinson (Canadian senator and the first female senator for Alberta)
• Bruce Hodgkinson (Australian artist and director/screenwriter known for his short films and experimental art films)
• John Hodgkinson (British child actor best known for his role in the film "Billy Elliot")
• George Hodgkinson (English cricketer who played for Warwickshire and the Gentlemen of England, among other teams)
• Tom Hodgkinson (British author, essayist, and editor of The Idler magazine, focusing on philosophy, self-sufficiency, and do-it-yourself culture)
• Ray Hodgkinson (Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League/AFL during the 1950-60s)
• Belinda Hodgkinson (Australian suffragette and feminist who fought for votes for women and gained attention for her activism during the 1910s)
• Mark Hodgkinson (British journalist and author known for his works about tennis and sports
• David Hodgkinson (Australian Paralympic athlete, competing in shooting and archery, and winning three medals across two Paralympic Games)

Other surnames

HodgkinHodgkinesHodgkins