Show ContentsHosier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hosier is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a person who makes or sells stockings and socks. The surname Hosier is derived from the Old English word hosa, which means hose. 1 This passage may be interesting to the reader: "The hosier of modern times sells stockings and other soft 'under clothing.' Two hundred years ago, [1600's] the hosiers of London were those tailors who sold ready-made clothes; but the original hosier was he who encased the 'nether man' in leather, covered both the foot and leg, and was called a hose. " 2

Early Origins of the Hosier family

The surname Hosier was first found in Oxfordshire, where William Husier was registered in Oseney in 1180. Years later, Clerkenwell records in London revealed John le Husier living there 1182-1187 and later, Nicholas, You le hosier was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Yorkshire in 1197. The Curia Regis in Sussex show Alexander le Hoser there in 1200. 3

The Writs of Parliament mention Philip le Hosier, c. 1300 and later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls include Thomas Hosyer as holding land there at that time. 1

Early History of the Hosier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hosier research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1182, 1506, 1545, 1571, 1579, 1642, 1650, 1673, 1720, 1721, 1722, 1725 and 1727 are included under the topic Early Hosier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hosier Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hosier include Hosier, Hozier and others.

Early Notables of the Hosier family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Edward Hosier (c.1506-1571), an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Shrewsbury in 1545; John Hosier, commander of the Magdalen a merchant ship in the service of the parliament in 1642-165...

Hosier Ranking

In the United States, the name Hosier is the 12,033rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4


United States Hosier migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Hosier Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Samuel Hosier of Essex who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet
  • Mary Hosier, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 5
  • Henry Hosier, who arrived in Maryland in 1670 5
  • Nicholas Hosier, who landed in Maryland in 1671 5
  • Henry Hosier, who landed in Maryland in 1673 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hosier Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Samuel Hosier, who landed in Virginia in 1703 5
  • Thomas Hosier to Maryland in 1718
  • Ann Hosier to Virginia in 1732
  • Captain Hosier to Boston in 1762

Australia Hosier migration to Australia +

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

Hosier Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Hosier, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Henry Nye Hosier, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 7
  • Ann Gunniman Hosier, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 7
  • Anne Eliza Hosier, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 7
  • Mary E Hosier, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hosier migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hosier Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Colonel J. Hosier, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wanganui" in 1882

Contemporary Notables of the name Hosier (post 1700) +

  • Thomas E. "Tom" Hosier (1942-2015), American 12th head football coach for the Eureka College Red Devils (1974-1978)
  • Harry Hosier (1750-1860), nicknamed "Black Harry", an African American Methodist preacher during the Second Great Awakening
  • Gerald D. Hosier, American intellectual property (IP) attorney and a patent litigator
  • John Hosier CBE (1928-2000), British composer, writer, and music school administrator


  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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BABOO 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Baboo.htm


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