| ![Show Contents]() Hotchkies History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The name Hotchkies arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Hotchkies comes from the Norman personal name Roger. Hotchkis was a baptismal name which is a pet form of Roger 1 as in "the son of little Hodge." 2 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 Hotchkies familyThe surname Hotchkies was first found in Shropshire where the name "is a characteristic Shropshire name, and one especially numerous in the district of Church Stretton." 3 The first record of the name was William Hochekys who was listed in Shropshire in 1470. 4 Early History of the Hotchkies familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hotchkies research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1453, 1470, 1645, 1677, 1690, 1765, 1790, 1826, 1836, 1872 and 1885 are included under the topic Early Hotchkies History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hotchkies Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Hotchkiss, Hotchkis and others. Early Notables of the Hotchkies familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Herman Hotchkiss (1765-1836), an early settler of East Haven, Connecticut credited as founder of Fair Haven, Connecticut. Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss (1826-1885) was one...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hotchkies Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Hotchkies familyTo escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Hotchkies or a variant listed above: Richard Hotchkiss, who settled in Virginia in 1635; Adam Hotchkiss settled in New England in 1659; William Hotchkiss settled in Maryland in 1775.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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