Hodgdon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Hodgdon

What does the name Hodgdon mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Hodgdon comes 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 Hodgdon family

The surname Hodgdon 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 Hodgdon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hodgdon 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 Hodgdon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hodgdon Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hodgdon has appeared include Hodgson, Hodson, Hodsdon and others.

Early Notables of the Hodgdon family

Notables of this surname at this time include: James Hodgson, of Cark who was listed in the Lancashire Wills at Richmond in 1591. The same source lists John Hodgeshon of Caton in 1616; and Cuthbert Hodgshon in 1611. 3James Hodgson (1672-1755), was an English mathematical teacher and writer. In 1703 he was elected fellow, and in 1733 one of the council, of the Royal Society. 4John Hodgson (d. 1684), was an English autobiographer, a Yorkshire gentleman, who resided near Halifax, took up arms on the side of the...
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hodgdon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hodgdon Ranking

In the United States, the name Hodgdon is the 10,756^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Hodgdon family to Ireland

Some of the Hodgdon 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.

Hodgdon migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hodgdon arrived in North America very early:

Hodgdon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas Hodgdon, who landed in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1634 6

Hodgdon Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Frank Hodgdon, aged 49, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
Stanley W. Hodgdon, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1909
Joseph Hodgdon, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1910
Howard Hodgdon, aged 16, who settled in America, in 1914
Andrew H. Hodgdon, aged 57, who settled in America, in 1914
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hodgdon (post 1700) +

Ray Hodgdon (b. 1929), American writer, known for The Plumbers Are Coming
Dana Hodgdon, American producer, known for his work on Undocumented (2013), Sweet 16 (2013) and Nostalgic (2014)
Sylvester Phelps Hodgdon (1830-1906), American painter
Lincoln Andrew "Drew" Hodgdon (b. 1981), American NFL football offensive lineman
John Hodgdon (b. 1800), American politician and farmer, founder of the town Hodgdon, Maine
Walter Hodgdon, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, 1953 7
Moses A. Hodgdon, American politician, Member of New Hampshire Governor's Council, 1868-70 7
Jean B. Hodgdon, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1972 7
Hiram Hodgdon, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 4th District, 1879-80 7
Forrest W. Hodgdon, American Republican politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Tuftonboro, 1956; Elected New Hampshire State Senate 4th District 1956 7
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Hodgdon 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.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
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, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html