Show ContentsHockey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Hockey comes from when the family resided in the regions of Hockley in Essex and Wales. The surname Hockey originally derived from the Old English word hoccsleah which referred to someone who lived close to hills. 1

The Hockey variant was derived from the "Anglo-Saxon personal name Hoc, Hoc(c)a, with the diminutive suffix -y." 2

Early Origins of the Hockey family

The surname Hockey was first found in Essex at Hockley, a parish, in the union and hundred of Rochford, about 2¼ miles from Rayleigh. 3 4 5 This place dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Hocheleia. 6

And this is where we found Michael de Hockele listed in the Feet of Fines for 1203. Over one hundred years later in Worcestershire, Nicholas de Hockelaye was found in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 7

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only listing for the family, that of William de Hokkele in Huntingdonshire. 8 In Somerset, Thomas de Hokkeleghe was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 9

Early History of the Hockey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hockey research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1220, 1273, 1593, 1606 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Hockey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hockey 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 Hockey include Hockley, Hockly, Hokeley, Hokelley and others.

Early Notables of the Hockey family

More information is included under the topic Early Hockey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Hockey migration to Australia +

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

Hockey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Hockey, (b. 1803), aged 27, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales, he died in 1878 10
  • George Hockey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 11
  • Mary Ann Hockey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 11
  • James Hockey, aged 21, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sea Park" 12
  • Edwin Hockey, aged 25, a butcher, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Navarino" 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hockey 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:

Hockey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Hockey, (b. 1857), aged 22, Cornish farm labourer departing on 5th June 1879 aboard the ship "Glenlora" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 18th August 1879 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Hockey (post 1700) +

  • Susan Hockey (b. 1946), born Susan Petty, British Emeritus Professor of Library and Information Studies at University College London
  • Lisbeth Hockey OBE FRCN (1918-2004), Austrian-born British nurse and researcher, the first director of the Nursing Research Unit in Edinburgh
  • Joseph Benedict "Joe" Hockey (b. 1965), Australian politician and diplomat, Member of Parliament for North Sydney from 1996 until 2015, Treasurer of Australia (2013-2015), Minister for Human Services and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, 25th Ambassador of Australia to the United States (2016-2020)
  • Ms. Audrey Joyce Hockey M.B.E. (b. 1925), British lady tracer, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to the community in Wallasey, Merseyside 15
  • Timothy D. "Tim" Hockey (b. 1964), Canadian CEO of TDAmeritrade (2016-), former Chief Executive Officer and President of TD Canada Trust (2011-2016)


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  7. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  8. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  9. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  11. State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1839 from London with Captain Benjamin Freeman and 245 passengers, arrived Port Adelaide on 16-07-1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Asia-list.htm
  12. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEA PARK 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/seapark1852.shtml
  13. South Australian Register Monday 14th August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1854.shtml
  14. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  15. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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