Show ContentsHoskin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hoskin is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the name Os, which is a short form for several personal names, including Osgod, Osbeorn, and Osmær. Os is supplemented by the common diminutive suffix -kin. While early records almost all include the "O" prefix, over the years this was dropped and now we typically find the name with an "H" prefix. One source notes that the name could have been derived from the Dutch personal name, Huskens. 1

Early Origins of the Hoskin family

The surname Hoskin was first found in Lancashire at Heskin, a township, in the parish of Eccleston, union of Chorley, hundred of Leyland. "Heskin being a joint manor with Eccleston, descended with it from the Gernets and Dacres to the family of Molyneux, of Sefton." 2

Early London rolls included the two earliest records of the family. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1274 listed Osekin (without surname) and Robert Osekin. 3 4

Peter Osekyn was listed in the Feet of Fines of 1306 in Essex, and later Thomas Hoskyns was listed in Berkshire in 1463. 4

Early History of the Hoskin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoskin research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1566, 1568, 1590, 1593, 1603, 1609, 1615, 1634, 1638, 1640, 1646, 1648, 1654, 1664, 1675, 1676, 1677, 1680, 1682, 1683, 1694, 1705, 1711, 1717, 1722, 1764 and 1767 are included under the topic Early Hoskin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoskin Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hoskin include Hoskins, Hoskin, Hosken, Hoskyne, Hoskyns, Haskin, Haskins, Hasken, Haskyne and many more.

Early Notables of the Hoskin family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Serjeant John Hoskins (1566-1638), an English poet, scholar of Greek, and politician. He was born at Monton or Monkton, now known as Monnington-upon-Wye, in the parish of Llanwarne, Herefordshire, an...
  • The Hoskyns of Harewood in the County of Hereford, is a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 18 December 1676 for Bennet Hoskyns, Member of Parliament for Wendover, Hereford and Heref...

Hoskin Ranking

In the United States, the name Hoskin is the 10,612nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5


Hoskin migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Hoskin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Hoskin, (b. 1810), aged 30, English miner departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 6
  • Mrs. Mary Hoskin, (b. 1810), aged 30, English settler departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 6
  • Mr. Richard Hoskin, (b. 1810), aged 30, English miner departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 6
  • Mr. William Hoskin, (b. 1815), aged 25, English sailor departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Princess Victoria" arriving in the United States on 9th June 1840 6
  • Catharine Hoskin, who landed in New York, NY in 1844 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hoskin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Hoskin, (b. 1873), aged 27, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th May 1900 en route to Colorado, USA 8
  • Mr. James Hoskin, (b. 1882), aged 22, Cornish slater from Delabole, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th April 1904 en route to Manistique, Michigan, USA 8
  • Mr. Richard Hoskin, (b. 1849), aged 55, Cornish miner from Penzance, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th December 1904 en route to Leadville, Colorado, USA 8
  • Mr. Richard Hoskin, (b. 1867), aged 38, Cornish miner from Truro, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Nelson, British Columbia, USA 8
  • Mr. Samuel Hoskin, (b. 1875), aged 30, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Tonopah, Nevada, USA 8

Hoskin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hoskin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Kitty Hoskin, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Zephyr" in 1833
  • S Hoskin, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Hoskin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hoskin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Ms. Elizabeth Hoskin, (b. 1783), aged 49, Cornish settler convicted in Devon, UK on 31st July 1832, sentenced for 9 years for stealing from a shop with her husband, Robert Hoskin, transported aboard the ship "Diana" on 11th December 1832 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 9
  • Miss Elizabeth Hoskin, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Diana" on 4th December 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. Robert Hoskin, (b. 1785), aged 48, Cornish settler convicted in Devon, UK in 1832, sentenced for 8 years for stealing from a shop with his wife, Elizabeth Hoskin, transported aboard the ship "Captivity" on 23rd April 1833 to New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. Robert Hoskin, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
  • Mr. James Hoskin, (b. 1814), aged 20, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 31st July 1833, sentenced for life for stealing a quantity of gold and silver coin from John Congdon, transported aboard the ship "Moffatt" on 29th January 1834 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hoskin 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:

Hoskin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Arthur Hoskin, who landed in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Amelia Thompson
  • Jonas Hoskin, who landed in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Amelia Thompson
  • William Hoskin, who landed in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Amelia Thompson
  • Mr. John Hoskin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1858 12
  • Mrs. Jane Hoskin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1858 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hoskin (post 1700) +

  • Chuck Hoskin (b. 1952), American politician and father of Chuck Hoskin Jr
  • Chuck Hoskin Jr. (b. 1974), American Cherokee Nation politician and attorney currently serving as the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation since 2019
  • Sheila Hoskin (b. 1936), English gold medalist track and field athlete
  • Cyril Henry Hoskin (1910-1981), English author who used the pen name Lobsang Rampa, author of The Third Eye
  • Ashley Hoskin (b. 1968), English former footballer
  • Alicia Hoskin (b. 2000), New Zealand flatwater canoeist, who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics
  • Richard Hoskin (b. 1959), New Zealand cricketer and administrator
  • John Hoskin (1921-1990), British sculptor from Cheltenham
  • David Hoskin (b. 1935), New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Northern Districts from 1956 to 1965, President of New Zealand Cricket from 2000 to 2003

HMS Royal Oak
  • Alfred J. Hoskin, British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 13
SS Atlantic
  • Mr. John Hoskin, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking


The Hoskin 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: Finem respice
Motto Translation: Consider the end


Suggested Readings for the name Hoskin +

  • Genealogy of One Branch of the Hoskinson Family (also Hoskin); Descendants of George Washington Hoskinson by Alice H. Woolridge.
  • Hoskins of Virginia and Related Families by Charles Willard Hoskins Warner.

  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  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. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  7. 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)
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Diana
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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