Show ContentsHogger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A Viking family in ancient Scotland was the first to use the name Hogger. It was a name for a careful and prudent person. While in England, this name is derived from the animal and there it is a metonymic surname (a surname derived from the principle object associated with a trade or occupation), in Scotland it is derived from the Old English word hoga, which means "prudent." A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favoured style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. 1

While this is the generally accepted origin of the name, one source claims the name was Norman as in 1040, Hubert de Hoga granted lands to Cerisy Abbey, Cerisy-la-Forêt, Manche, France. 2

Early Origins of the Hogger family

The surname Hogger was first found in Durham, but by the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the family was scattered throughout England. The rolls included: Alice le Hog, Oxfordshire; Philip le Hog, Kent; and Peter Hog, Yorkshire. 3

In Somerset, there were two listings of the family 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III): Nicholas Hogg; and Oliver le Hogg. 4

In Scotland where the most numerous records of the family were found, the first record was "about the year 1280, [when] Andrew Fraser gave to the Abbey of Kelso a bondman, Adam the son of Henry del Hoga (i.e. 'of the Hog') 'nativo meo cum tota sequela sua' (Kelso, p. 95). In the year 1250, mention is made of the croft of Henry de Hoga in Gordun, Berwickshire and c. 1270 John de Grantham, son and heir of Emma, the daughter and heir of Salomon del Hoga, made a grant from her lands at Berwick, which Radulph de Bernewill held, to the monks of Kelso. Again, about 1280 there is mention of the croft which Adam del Hoga held in the time of Lady Alycie de Gordun. Thurcyl hoga is one of the witnesses to a charter of Cnut, 1024 (Kemble, Codex Dipl., IV, 741). The spelling of the name here, Hoga, the earliest record of its occurrence, certainly points to Old English hoga, 'careful,' 'prudent,' as origin of the name at least in this instance." 5

Sir James Weir Hogg, 1st Baronet (1790-1876) the famous businessman, lawyer and politician was born in Northern Ireland, but his family originally hailed from Swinton, Berwickshire. This baronetcy of Upper Grosvenor Street in the County of London survived until 1957.

Early History of the Hogger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hogger research. Another 434 words (31 lines of text) covering the years 1294, 1296, 1358, 1363, 1370, 1379, 1402, 1462, 1529, 1543, 1583, 1628, 1635, 1658, 1661, 1680, 1692, 1700, 1734, 1745, 1770, 1792, 1835, 1862 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hogger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hogger Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes most often spelled names by the way they sounded. spelling variations, are thus, very common in records dating from that time. Over the years, Hogger has been spelled Hogg, Hogge, Hoag, Hogue, Hoig and others.

Early Notables of the Hogger family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Ralf Hogge, an English iron-master and gun founder to the king; he succeeded in casting the first iron cannon in England in 1543 and known to have later built Hogge House in the village of Buxted, East Sussex in 1583.Thomas Hog (d. 1680?), was a Scottish minister of Larbert, Stirlingshire; and his son, James Hog (1658?-1734), was also a Scottish minister at Carnock, known for...
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hogger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hogger family to Ireland

Some of the Hogger family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hogger family

The Scottish settlers spread out along the fertile land of the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. They and many of their children went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. That heritage has been recovered by many in this century through Clan societies and other Scottish historical organizations. Archival documents indicate that members of the Hogger family relocated to North American shores quite early: Daniel Hogg settled in Boston in 1651; along with John and Neile; Bernard, Charles, James, John, Peter, Richard and William Hogue all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.



The Hogger 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: Dat gloria vires
Motto Translation: Glory gives strength.


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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