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Show ContentsHodson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The history of the name Hodson begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the baptismal name for Roger,which was originally derived from the nickname Hodge. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honor 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 Hodson family

The surname Hodson was first found in Northumberland where "this name in the North of England is pronounced Hodgin, while in the South it has taken not only the pronunciation, but the spelling, of Hodson or Hudson. The name of Hodgson is ancient at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, being found in records of temp. Edward I., and the Hodgsons of Stella and Acton, co. Northumberland, trace a clear pedigree to 1424." 1

"The Hodgsons are at present most numerous in this county and in the adjacent parts of Yorkshire. As far back as the 15th century they were more numerous in Northumberland than they are at present." 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Johannes Hodgeson; and Johannes Hojegeson. 3

Early History of the Hodson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hodson research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1591, 1611, 1616, 1620, 1624, 1640, 1642, 1645, 1648, 1672, 1684, 1703, 1733, 1755 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Hodson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hodson Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Hodson has been recorded under many different variations, including Hodgson, Hodson, Hodsdon and others.

Early Notables of the Hodson family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • William Hodson (fl. 1640), was a theological writer, was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. in 1620, M.A. in 1624 (University Register). 4

Hodson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hodson is the 5,160th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5 However, in New Zealand, the name Hodson is ranked the 852nd most popular surname with an estimated 859 people with that name. 6 And in the United Kingdom, the name Hodson is the 829th popular surname with an estimated 8,169 people with that name. 7

Ireland Migration of the Hodson family to Ireland

Some of the Hodson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Hodson migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hodson or a variant listed above:

Hodson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Hodson, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • Tho Hodson, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 8
  • Mr. Thomas Hodson, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Constance" arriving in Virginia in 1635 9
  • Jon Hodson, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 8
  • George Hodson, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1641 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hodson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Hodson, who landed in New York in 1847 8
  • Alice Hodson, aged 9, who landed in New York in 1864 8
  • Ann Hodson, aged 19, who arrived in New York in 1864 8
  • Henry Hodson, aged 7, who arrived in New York in 1864 8
  • James Hodson, aged 50, who landed in New York in 1864 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Hodson migration to Australia +

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

Hodson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Hodson, (Powell), British Convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. John Hodson, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Champion" on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. William Hodson, English convict who was convicted in Staffordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
  • Mr. William Hodson, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda 13
  • Benjamin Hodson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Calphurnia" in 1849 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hodson 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:

Hodson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Frank Hodson, aged 29, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Collingwood" in 1875
  • Deonia Hodson, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Collingwood" in 1875
  • James Hodson, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Collingwood" in 1875
  • Thomas Hodson, aged 4, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Collingwood" in 1875
  • George Hodson, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Collingwood" in 1875
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hodson (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Paul Hodson (b. 1967), American NFL football quarterback from Mathews, Louisiana
  • Brigadier-General Fremont Byron Hodson (1894-1974), American Commanding General New Orleans Port of Embarkation (1943) 15
  • Kenneth J. Hodson (b. 1931), American officer, recipient of the Legion of Merit, eponym of the Hodson Award
  • Richard H. Hodson, American politician, Mayor of Hopatcong, New Jersey, 2007 16
  • O. A. Hodson, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 42nd District, 1955-58 16
  • Lloyd M. Hodson, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alaska, 1972 16
  • Ermil D. Hodson, American politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Raleigh County, 1937-38 16
  • Edward W. Hodson, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1916 16
  • Devoe Pell Hodson (1856-1932), American Democratic Party politician, Member, New York State Public Service Commission, 1914-19; Candidate for New York State Attorney General, 1917 16
  • Clarence Hodson, American politician, Mayor of Rock Island, Illinois, 1932-34 16
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Harold C Hodson, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 17
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. William Hodson, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 18

The Hodson 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: Miseris succurrere disco
Motto Translation: I learn to succour the distressed.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. 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)
  9. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  11. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 18th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/champion
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bangalore
  14. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CALPHURNIA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Calpurnia.htm
  15. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Fremont Hodson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hodson/Fremont_Byron/USA.html
  16. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  17. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  18. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
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