Show ContentsHodgman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Hodgman name began with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the baptismal name Roger which was nicknamed Hodge. 1 As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honour of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures.

Early Origins of the Hodgman family

The surname Hodgman was first found in Lincolnshire where Hogge (with no forename) was recorded in the Feet of Fines for 1208 and later in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cumberland in 1212. These entries may be for the same person or not. William Hogge was listed in Cornwall in 1297 and Alicia Hogges was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. 2 Robert Hogge was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1284. 3

In Yorkshire, the first records of the name were found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. That rolls had a multitude of listings including: Johannes Hodgeson; Thomas Hogge; Johannes Hoggeson; Ebbota Hoggese, and Ricardus Hoge. The last entry was listed as a servant of Roger (Hodge.) 1

Further to the north in Scotland, the first entries for the family were quite late: "Laurence Hoige, witness in Glasgow, 1550 (Protocols, I). Mariota Hodge is recorded in Edinburgh in 1625 (Retours, Edinburgh, 545), and Thomas Hodge was merchant burgess there in 1629. Thomas Hodgis was burgess of Glasgow in 1487. " 4

Early History of the Hodgman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hodgman research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1120, 1267, 1625, 1629, 1645, 1664, 1665, 1688, 1703, 1714 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hodgman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hodgman Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Hodgman family name include Hodge, Hodges and others.

Early Notables of the Hodgman family

Notables of the family at this time include Nathaniel Hodges M.D. (1629-1688), an English physician, known for his work during the Great Plague of London and his written account entitled Loimologia. He was the son of Dr. Thomas Hodges, vicar of Kensington, and was born in that parish on 13 September 1629. "When the plague raged in London in 1665, he remained in residence, and attended all who sought his advice. During the Christmas holidays of 1664-5 he saw a few doubtful...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hodgman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hodgman family to Ireland

Some of the Hodgman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Hodgman migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hodgman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Hodgman, British Convict who was convicted in Sandwich, Kent, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Corona" on 13th October 1866, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Hodgman (post 1700) +

  • Joan Hodgman (1923-2008), American pioneer of neonatology
  • William Adams Hodgman, United States Navy captain and diplomat
  • Ann Hodgman (b. 1956), American author
  • John Kellogg Hodgman (b. 1971), American author, actor, and humorist
  • Willis K. Hodgman, American Republican politician, Mayor of Taunton, Massachusetts, 1894 6
  • Lewis E. Hodgman, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Bedford, 1938 6
  • William Clark "Bill" Hodgman OBE, QC (1909-1997), Australian Tasmanian politician
  • William Michael Hodgman AM QC (1938-2013), Australian Liberal politician, Member of the Australian Parliament for Denison (1975-1987)
  • Justin Hodgman (b. 1988), Canadian professional ice hockey player
  • Helen Hodgman (b. 1945), Australian novelist
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Hodgman Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Dant lucem crescentibus orti
Motto Translation: Rising from the crescents they give light.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/corona
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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