Show ContentsHokenhull History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hokenhull

What does the name Hokenhull mean?

The name Hokenhull is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the region of Hockenhull in the parish of Tarvin. Hokenhull is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came.

Early Origins of the Hokenhull family

The surname Hokenhull was first found in Cheshire at Hockenhull, a township, in the parish of Tarvin, union of Great Boughton, Second division of the hundred of Eddisbury. 1

However, we must look to Nottinghamshire to find the first entries in early rolls: Gibbe de Huckenhale who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1179. This entry was from Hucknall-Under-Huthwaite, a hamlet, in the parish of Sutton-in-Ashfield, union of Mansfield, N. division of the wapentake of Broxtow and of the county of Nottingham or Hucknall-Torkard, a parish, in the union of Basford, N. division of the wapentake of Broxtow 1

Almost one hundred years later, Hamo de Hukenelle was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. Later in Gloucestershire, William Hockenale was listed in 1345 and a few years later in 1378, he listed his name as Huckenale. 2

East Cheshire records show: Hamo Hokenhull, 25 Henry VIII; Richard Hocknell, 2 Elizabeth; and Thomas Hockenhull, of Hockenhull Platt, 1577. 3 For these records, the date was recorded as the year of the King as in the twenty-fifth year of Henry VIII reign.

Early History of the Hokenhull family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hokenhull research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1577, 1606 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Hokenhull History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hokenhull Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Hokenhull were recorded, including Hockenhull, Hocknell, Hokenhull, Hoknell and others.

Early Notables of the Hokenhull family

More information is included under the topic Early Hokenhull Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hokenhull family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hokenhull family emigrate to North America: Thomas Hockenhull, who sailed to Maine in 1812.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-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)


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