| ![Show Contents]() Hodgekiss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England Hodgekiss is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. Hodgekiss is a name that 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 Hodgekiss familyThe surname Hodgekiss 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 Hodgekiss familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hodgekiss 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 Hodgekiss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hodgekiss Spelling VariationsAnglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Hotchkiss, Hotchkis and others. Early Notables of the Hodgekiss 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 Hodgekiss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Hodgekiss familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Hodgekiss or a variant listed above were: 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)
 |
