Show ContentsHopping History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hopping

What does the name Hopping mean?

The many generations and branches of the Hopping family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a dancer. The surname Hopping is derived from the Old English word hoppian, which means to hop, to leap, or to dance. 1

"The name of Hopper is also established in Cambridgeshire and Devonshire. In the 13th century it occurred as Le Hoppere, or Le Hopper, in Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, etc." 2

Early Origins of the Hopping family

The surname Hopping was first found in Wiltshire, where Edric le Hoppere was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1203 and later in the Curia Regis Rolls for Worcester in 1204. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had three listings for the family: Richard le Hoppare Oxfordshire; Gerard le Hopper, Suffolk; and Reginald le Hopper, Cambridgeshire. 4

Further to the north in Scotland, "Robert Hopper received the acre of land called Stampardesakyr in the territory of Coldingham, and in 1275 witnessed a charter of lands in Raynigton to the Abbey of Coldstream. The name of a burgess family of good standing in Edinburgh from beginning of the fifteenth century. David Hopper held a tenement in the burgh in 1486, and Adam Hoppar was a notary public in the diocese of St. Andrews in 1524." 5

Early History of the Hopping family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hopping research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1220, 1254, 1275, 1388, 1540, 1559, 1581, 1593, 1628, 1668, 1687, 1799, 1803, 1834 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hopping History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hopping 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 Hopping were recorded, including Hopper, Hawper, Happer and others.

Early Notables of the Hopping family

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hopping Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hopping Ranking

In the United States, the name Hopping is the 18,173rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Hopping family to Ireland

Some of the Hopping family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Hopping migration to the United States +

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 Hopping family emigrate to North America:

Hopping Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Leslie Hopping, aged 22, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Lake George" from New York to New Orleans & So. America 7
  • Michel Hopping, aged 31, originally from Antwerp, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Brazilier" from Antwerp, Belgium 7
  • Michael Hopping, originally from London, who arrived in New York, N. Y. in 1919 aboard the ship "Gymeric" from London, England 7

Hopping migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hopping Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J. Hopping, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" in 1872 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Hopping (post 1700) +

  • Lieutenant Commander Hallsted L. Hopping, American commanding officer of Scouting Six, killed in action during the February 1, 1942 Marshall Islands Raid, eponym of the USS Hopping (DE-155/APD-51), a Buckley-class destroyer escort
  • Enos D. Hopping (1805-1847), American brigadier general in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War
  • Brigadier-General Andrew Daniel Hopping (1894-1951), American Deputy Quartermaster-General (1944-1946) 9
  • Blair Robert Hopping (b. 1980), New Zealand two-time silver medalist field hockey player


The Hopping 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: Subditus fidelis regis est salus regni
Motto Translation: A faithful subject of the king is a preserver of the monarchy.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  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)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  8. The Daily Southern Cross October 25th 1872. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Robert Henderson. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/RobertHenderson1872.htm
  9. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Andrew Hopping. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hopping/Andrew_Daniel/USA.html


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