Hodley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Hodley date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in East Hoathly (Hoathley) or West Hoathly (Hoathley), parishes in Sussex. "Of the truth of this derivation there can be no doubt." 1

Of the two, West Hoathley is the oldest, dating back to 1121 when it was known as Hadlega. East Hoathley dates back to 1287 when it was known as Hodlegh. Both literally mean "heathy woodland clearing" or "woodland clearing where heather grows." 2

Early Origins of the Hodley family

The surname Hodley was first found in Sussex, where William de Hodlegh was listed in the Subsidy Rolls in 1296. 3

Early History of the Hodley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hodley research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1616, 1643, 1676, 1678, 1705, 1706, 1711, 1746, 1757, 1761, 1776 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Hodley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hodley Spelling Variations

Hodley has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Hodley have been found, including Hoadley, Hoadly, Hodly, Hoadely, Hodely and others.

Early Notables of the Hodley family

Distinguished members of the family include Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761), Bishop of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury and Winchester, who was born in Westerham, Kent. John Hoadly, Archbishop of Armagh [q. v.], was his brother. Benjamin Hoadly (1706-1757), was an English physician, son of Benjamin Hoadly, Bishop of Winchester [q. v.] and was born on 10 February 1706 in Broad Street, London. John Hoadly (1711-1776), was an English poet...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hodley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hodley migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Hodleys to arrive on North American shores:

Hodley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Hodley, who landed in Maryland in 1664 4
Elizabeth Hodley, who arrived in Maryland in 1670 4

The Hodley 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: Veritas et patria
Motto Translation: Truth and faith.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)