Hodnott is one of the names carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is based on the Norman name Odinet, from which the more commonly known Odo is derived. Apart from the aforementioned patronymic origin, the place name could also mean "pleasant valley," from the Welsh "hawdd" meaning "pleasant" or "peaceful" and "nant," a "glen or valley." [1]
The surname Hodnott was first found in Shropshire at Hodnet, a village and civil parish in the union of Drayton, in the hundred of North Bradford. [2]
The first record of the place name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Odenet. [3]
"The Hodnets, or Hodnetts, derive their name from the Shropshire parish of Hodnet. During the 13th century there was a powerful family in the county that took the name of De Hodenet from either the manor or the parish of the name." [4]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hodnott research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1116 and 1237 are included under the topic Early Hodnott History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Hodenet, Hignett, Hignet, Hodnet, Hodnett, Hodenett, Hodinett, Hodinutt, Hodinut, Hodinott, Hodinot, Hoddenett, Hoddinet, Hoddinutt and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Hodnott Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Hodnott family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 104 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.