HODGINS
Hodgins is a surname of English and Germanic origin, traditionally found within the British Isles, particularly in England. The name derives from the medieval given name Hodge, a diminutive of Roger, which itself traces back to the Old Germanic elements hrod meaning “fame” and ger meaning “spear.” The addition of the suffix -ins indicates a patronymic relationship, denoting “son of” or “descendant of.” Consequently, Hodgins literally means “son of Hodge” or, more broadly, “descendant of Roger.”
Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, the personal name Roger was brought to Britain and began to be adapted into affectionate pet forms. English speakers often replaced the initial R of French names with an H for ease of pronunciation, producing variants such as Hob from Robert, Hick from Richard, and Hodge from Roger. This linguistic practice led to the development of patronymics such as Hoggekynes, Hodgekin, and Hodgskines, which appear in historical records.
Documented spellings of the name date back to the early fourteenth century. The Staffordshire Subsidy Rolls of 1327 record Robert Hochekyn, while a 1445 entry from Norfolk mentions Richard Hoggekynes. In Suffolk, the year 1524 provides an example of Robert Hodgekin, and a 1690 entry from Shropshire lists Charles Hodgskines. The marriage of Richard Abby and Elizabeth Hodgkins in London in 1602 further evidences the surname’s use during the early modern period. Over time, the name acquired several orthographic variants, including Hotchkin, Hodgkin, Hodgins, Hodgkiss, and Hotchkiss.
In contemporary times, the surname Hodgins remains relatively uncommon but is well established in several English‑speaking nations. Census data estimate that roughly five thousand individuals worldwide bear the name today. The name is most frequently encountered in England, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia, with a notable concentration in Ontario, Canada. Historical migration patterns have linked the Hodgins family to significant contributions in the economic development and infrastructure of Ontario during the period of rapid growth in the early nineteenth century.
Variants of the surname often emphasise familial connections. The suffix -kin in forms such as Hodgkin and Hodgkinson functions as a diminutive meaning “little” or “son of,” while composite forms like Hodgkinson literally translate to “son of Hodgkin.” As with many surnames, individual family histories may exhibit particular meanings or origins, affording a nuanced understanding of lineage within a broader linguistic framework.
Typical given names associated with the Hodgins surname
Male
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Jonathan
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Alison
- Christine
- Helen
- Jean
- Julie
- Katherine
- Lisa
- Lucy
- Margaret
- Mary
- Neelam
- Patricia
- Rosalyn
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Haegens
- Hagenes
- Hagens
- Hagins
- Hajnas
- Hegins
- Higens
- Higins
- Hodgen
- Hodgens
- Hodgeon
- Hodgeson
- Hodgin
- Hodgings
- Hodginkson
- Hodginson
- Hodgiss
- Hodgitts
- Hodgkin
- Hodgkins
- Hodgkiss
- Hodgkyns
- Hodgsin
- Hodgskin
- Hodgskins
- Hodjson
- Hogini
- Hogins
- Hosken
- Hoskins
- Hudgen
- Hudgens
- Hudgin
- Hudgins
- Hugens
- Hugins
- Huygens
- Hygens
- Hygins
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Hodgins in...
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There are approximately 879 people named Hodgins in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,165th most common surname in Britain. Around 13 in a million people in Britain are named Hodgins.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Hodgins
- Isabel Hodgins - Actress
- Robert Hodgins - South-african painter and printmaker (1920 to 2010)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.