Surname Hotchkis - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hotchkis: What does the surname Hotchkis mean?
Hotchkis is a surname of Scottish origin. The name is derived from a place called "Hocheskuche" or "Hochchesse" in the old Scottish borders. Etymology of the name suggests it may mean 'at the high oak', derived from Old English words 'hoc' meaning 'high' and 'ac' meaning 'oak'. Over time, it evolved into its present form. The family who bore this name held a family seat in the Scottish borders for several centuries and played an integral role in the local history and politics. Like many surnames, the spelling of Hotchkis has gone through several variations over time, including Hotchkin, Hochkins, Hotchkiss, among others. Notable people with the name Hotchkis include American family of industrialists and philanthropists such as John Hotchkis. It's also the name of Hotchkis School, a private American prep school in Connecticut. Even though it's of Scottish origin, this surname can be found in several countries due to historical migrations.
Order DNA origin analysisHotchkis: Where does the name Hotchkis come from?
The surname Hotchkis is of Scottish origin. It is derived from a place called Hodgshill (also spelled Hodgeschil) located near Roxburgh, Scotland. One of the first recordings of this surname dates back to the 13th century in the "Register of Monastery of Melrose," Roxburghshire. The individual was referenced as William de Hodes, in 1275, and later as Roger Hotchkis, in 1480.
Despite the Scottish origins of the name, today the surname Hotchkis is more common in England. More specifically, it is frequently found in Shropshire, a county on the English/Welsh border. Many Hotchkises migrated abroad during the period of British colonization and the Industrial Revolution, and therefore the surname can also be found, to a lesser extent, in places such as the United States and Australia. Despite this dispersal, it still remains a relatively uncommon surname globally.
Variations of the surname Hotchkis
The surname Hotchkis is rather rare and is understood to primarily originate from England. Some sources suggest it might be a variant of the more common and ancient surname Hodgkin, which is a diminutive form of the personal names Roger or Hodge. Given this connection, similar surnames like Hodgkins, Hodgkinson, Hodgkiss, Hotchkiss, Hodgekin, and Hodgekins may potentially be connected to Hotchkis.
Spelling variations over the centuries and with geographical distinctions are quite normal for surnames. So, Hotchkis might have variations like Hotchkiss, Hottchkiss, Hottchkis, Hottchkins, Hotchkin, or Hottchkin.
It's worth noting that spelling standards were not always as fixed as they are today, so names often appeared in different forms in historical records. Emigration and immigration, as well as regional dialects, and even simple recording errors, contributed to spelling variations.
Lastly, although different areas can have surnames which sound identical or very similar, they may have completely different roots, evolved separately and merely coincidentally ended up sounding similar. Understanding these can often require specialist knowledge of surname etymology or genealogy. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to perform detailed genealogical research to confirm the origin and variations of a surname like Hotchkis.
Famous people with the name Hotchkis
- Mike Hotchkis, television/film producer
- Jen Hotchkis, actress
- Jim Hotchkis, an early 20th-century professional baseball player
- Clarence Hotchkis, American auto executive of the early twentieth century
- Jack Hotchkis, aerospace engineer
- Robert Hotchkis, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
- Rick Hotchkis, actor and stuntman
- Frank Hotchkis, Australian painter
- Peter Hotchkis, anonymous medieval English chronicler
- Helen Hotchkis, labor and women's rights pioneer