Hodgson is a surname. In Britain, the Hodgson surname was the 173rd most common (766 per million) in 1881 and the 206th most common (650 per million) in 1998. In the

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

, Hodgson was the 3753rd most popular surname (30 per million) in the 1990 census.

Origin and meaning

Hodgson is a

patronymic surname A patronymic surname is a surname originated from the given name of the father or a patrilineal ancestor. Different cultures have different ways of producing patronymic surnames. For example, early patronymic Welsh surnames were the result of th ...

, thought by some to mean "son of Hodge", with Hodge being a Middle English personal name usually representing a pet-form of the name Roger. However, Geoffrey Hodgson shows that both distribution of the name and DNA suggest a Norse-Irish origin, making “son of Oddgeir” a more likely derivation.

Variants

The Hodson surname is less common and generally derives from Hodgson. Other probable variants of Hodgson include Hodgeson, Hodgshon, Hodshon, Hodgin, Hodgins, Hodgen, Hodgens, Hodghson, Hodgon and Hodgeon. In the North of England the "s" is often silent in the pronunciation of Hodgson. This accounts for variants such as Hodgin, Hodgen, Hodgon and Hodgeon.

Coat of arms

The Hodgsons of

Hebburn Hebburn is a town in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, England. It governed under the borough of South Tyneside; formerly governed under the county of Durham until 1974 with its own urban district from 1894 until 1974. It is on the south ...

, a mine-owning Catholic family living in the North East of England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (Surtees 1820, vol. 2, pp. 77, 319, James 1974, Hodgson 2008), bore a heraldic coat of arms,

blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vis ...

ed as "per chevron, embattled or and azure, three martlets counterchanged". This same coat of arms is associated with several other Hodgson families, including the Hodgsons of West Keal in Lincolnshire, the Hodgsons of Bascodyke in Cumberland (Hodgson 1925), the Hodshons of

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, and with Thomas Hodgson (1738–1817) a

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

merchant and slave trader, and the owner of a mill in Caton, Lancashire (Hodgson 2008).

Border Reivers and Hodgson clans

For centuries before James VI's assentation to the throne of England (

Union of the Crowns The Union of the Crowns ( gd, Aonadh nan Crùintean; sco, Union o the Crouns) was the accession of James VI of Scotland to the throne of the Kingdom of England as James I and the practical unification of some functions (such as overseas dip ...

), the remote Anglo-Scottish borderland region had been the lair of unruly clans and gangs of robbers that were largely beyond the reach of the law. A peculiar form of clan organisation grew up in this area. This was the land of the

Border Reivers Border reivers were Cattle raiding, raiders along the Anglo-Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. They included both Scotland, Scottish and England, English people, and they raided the entire border ...

. These clans had a legal system distinct from that of the majority of England and Scotland (Robb 2018). The suppression of this legal system led to a generalised breakdown of

Reiver Border reivers were raiders along the Anglo-Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. They included both Scottish and English people, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their ...

society (Robb 2018). They would steal goods, cattle and women from across the nominal border. Some Hodgsons in

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

were themselves a clan organisation (Fraser 1971). The border clans were eventually subjection by state authorities. Many were forced or obliged to emigrate to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

in the 18th century (Fischer 1989). Many Hodgsons emigrated in this period.

People with the surname

Alex Hodgson Alex Hodgson (born 12 August 1961) is a Scottish folk singer/songwriter signed to the record label Greentrax Recordings. In his early professional career, Alex was the drummer and lead vocalist of The Last Resort alongside working as a technician a ...

, Scottish singer/songwriter *

Andrew Hodgson (disambiguation) Andrew Hodgson may refer to: * Andrew Hodgson (translator) (born 1994), Japanese-to-English translator * Andrew Hodgson (rugby) (born 1976), rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s * Andrew Hodgson (cricketer) (born 1941), ...

Arthur Hodgson __NOTOC__ Sir Arthur Hodgson Order of St Michael and St George, KCMG (29 June 1818 – 24 December 1902) was an Australian pioneer and politician. Early life Hodgson was born in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England; the second son of the Rev. ...

(1818–1902), Australian pioneer and politician *

Brett Hodgson Brett Hodgson (born 12 February 1978) is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional player during the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. A New South Wales State of Origin representative goal-kicking , he played his club football in the NRL ...

, Australian professional rugby league player * Brian Hodgson, British television composer and sound technician * Brian Houghton Hodgson (1800–1894), British naturalist *

Bryan Hodgson Bryan Hodgson (born 1987) is an American college basketball coach who is currently serving as an assistant coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Early life Hodgson was born at Olean General Hospital in 1987 to a teenage mother. After his mother's ...

, American college basketball coach *

Caroline Hodgson Caroline Hodgson (1851 – 11 July 1908), also known as Madame Brussels, was a well-known brothel proprietor and local identity of the Little Lon district in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, during the late 19th century. Life Hodgson was born in ...

(1851–1908), Australian brothel proprietor * Charles Hodgson (artist) (c. 1770 – 1856), amateur English landscape painter *

Christopher Hodgson (disambiguation) Christopher Hodgson may refer to: * Chris Hodgson (born 1962), Canadian politician *Christopher Hodgson (priest) Christopher Hodgson (1561 – after 1596) was a Catholic priest who played a minor role in the Babington Plot (Pollen 1922, Smith 1936 ...

Claire Merritt Hodgson Claire Merritt Hodgson Ruth, born Clara Mae Merritt (September 11, 1900 – October 25, 1976), was a native of Athens, Georgia, United States, who is most famous for having been the second wife of Babe Ruth. Biography Claire's first husband, ...

(1897–1976), second wife of Babe Ruth *

Cody Hodgson Cody Douglas Hodgson (born February 18, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centreman. Hodgson played at the major junior level for four seasons with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). After being select ...

(born 1990), Canadian professional ice hockey player *

David Hodgson (disambiguation) David Hodgson may refer to: * David Hodgson (rugby league) (born 1981), English rugby league footballer * David Hodgson (judge) (1939–2012), Australian judge * David Hodgson (chemist), English chemistry professor * David Hodgson (footballer) (bo ...

Derek Hodgson (disambiguation) Derek Hodgson may refer to: * Derek Hodgson (priest) John Derek Hodgson (15 November 1931 – 22 November 2007) was an Anglican priest in the last decades of the 20th century and the first of the 21st. Born on 15 November 1931, he was educated a ...

Edward Hodgson Edward Franks Hodgson (28 August 1813 – 9 March 1882) was an English clergyman and a cricketer who played in first-class cricket matches for Cambridge University in 1835 and 1836. He was born in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire and died at Holton c ...

(1813–1882), British clergyman and cricketer *

Edward Smith Hodgson Edward S. Hodgson (25 April 186615 April 1937) was a Scottish artist, etcher, and illustrator who began a career on the sea, but after an injury, switched to art. He is probably best known as the illustrator of 17 boys' adventure books by Per ...

(1866–1937), Scottish artist, etcher, and illustrator of magazines and of juvenile fiction * Frances Hodgson Burnett, born Frances Eliza Hodgson (1849–1924), English–American playwright and author * Francis Roger Hodgson (1853–1920), British clergyman and Bible translator * Frederick Hodgson (disambiguation) *

Geoffrey Hodgson Geoffrey Martin Hodgson (born 28 July 1946, Watford) is Emeritus Professor in Management at the London campus of Loughborough University, and also the editor-in-chief of the ''Journal of Institutional Economics.'' Hodgson is recognised as one o ...

(born 1946), economist * George Hodgson (disambiguation) * Henrietta Mildred Hodgson (1805–1891), great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II * Henry Hodgson (disambiguation) *

Herbert John Hodgson Herbert John Hodgson (2 June 1893, Camberwell – 10 August 1974, London) is regarded as one of the most skilled printers of the twentieth century. After serving in the First World War, with Roy Manning Pike he printed the rare 1926 subscribers' e ...

(1893–1974), soldier and printer of ''The Seven Pillars of Wisdom'' *

Isaac Hodgson (architect) Isaac Hodgson (December 16, 1826 – August, 1909) was an Irish architect who worked primarily in Indiana and Minnesota. Life and education He was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1826 and studied at the Royal Academy. He went to work for architect ...

(born 1826), Irish-US architect * James Hodgson (disambiguation) *

Jane Elizabeth Hodgson Jane Elizabeth Hodgson (January 23, 1915, Crookston, Minnesota – October 23, 2006, Rochester, Minnesota) was an American obstetrician and gynecologist. Hodgson received a bachelor's degree from Carleton College and her M.D. from the Univer ...

(1915–2006), American obstetrician and gynecologist *

Joel Hodgson Joel Hodgson (born February 20, 1960) is an American writer, comedian and television actor. He is best known for creating ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (''MST3K'') and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. In 2007, ''MST3K'' was liste ...

(born 1960), creator and former host of Mystery Science Theater 3000 * John Hodgson (disambiguation) * Joseph Hodgson (1788–1869), British physician *

Jules Hodgson Jules Hodgson, also credited as Joolz or J. Hogstorm, is an English musician, record producer and former member of KMFDM and The Spittin' Cobras (along with KMFDM bandmate Andy Selway). He is a former member of PIG and Lodestar. In 2006, Hodgso ...

, English guitarist *

Julian Hodgson Julian Michael "Jules" Hodgson (born 25 July 1963 in London) is a British chess player, grandmaster, and former British chess champion. Biography He first came to the notice of the chess world for his achievements as a junior, whilst at Ha ...

(born 1963), English chess grandmaster * Ken Hodgson (1942–2007), English footballer from Newcastle. * Laurence C. Hodgson (1874–1937), US newspaper writer and politician *

Leonard Hodgson Leonard Hodgson (24 October 1889 in Fulham, London – 15 July 1969 in Leamington Spa) was an Anglican priest, philosopher, theologian, historian of the early Church and Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford from 1944 to 1958. ...

(1889–1969), Anglican priest, philosopher, theologian, and historian * Leyland Hodgson 1892–1949), American actor * Lucy Hodgson, American sculptor and printmaker *

Marshall Hodgson Marshall Goodwin Simms Hodgson (April 11, 1922 – June 10, 1968), was an Islamic studies academic and a world historian at the University of Chicago. He was chairman of the interdisciplinary Committee on Social Thought in Chicago. Works Though he ...

(1922–1968), American Islamic scholar *

Martin Hodgson Martin Hodgson (26 March 1909 – 23 July 1991) was an English rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Lauded as one of the game's greatest ever s, he represented Great Britain, England and Cumberland on many occasions. ...

(1909–1991), English rugby league forward and goalkicker * Matthew Hodgson (disambiguation) *

Miriam Hodgson Miriam Ann Hodgson (née Rosenthal, 10 December 1938 – 14 November 2005) was a British editor of children's books. In their obituary, ''The Guardian'' called her "one of the most successful children's books editors of the last 20 years, and one ...

(1938–2005), British editor of children's books *

Nick Hodgson Nicholas James David Hodgson (born 20 October 1977) is an English drummer, backing vocalist, and songwriter, formerly of the indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs. Early life He attended St. Mary's Menston with Nick Baines and Simon Rix. He then wen ...

(born 1977), English drummer and musician *

Patricia Hodgson Dame Patricia Anne Hodgson, (born 19 January 1947) is a broadcasting executive, competition regulator, and academic administrator. She is a board member of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation having served as Chair of Ofcom from 2014 to 20 ...

, Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge * Paul Hodgson (disambiguation) * Peter Hodgson (disambiguation) * Ralph Hodgson (1871–1962), English poet *

Randolph Hodgson The Rev. Randolph Llewelyn Hodgson (24 January 1870 – 6 December 1952) was an English Anglican Vicar (Anglicanism), vicar and writer, who contributed for more than 20 years to ''The Cricketer'' magazine under the pen-name of A Country Vicar. E ...

(1870–1952), English clergyman and writer under the pen-name "A Country Vicar" * Richard Hodgson (disambiguation) * Robert Hodgson (disambiguation) *

Robert Willard Hodgson Robert Willard Hodgson (1893–1966) was an American botanist, taxonomist and agricultural researcher located in the California State, an exceptional citrus and avocado expert. He was a co-author of The Citrus Industry book,

(1893–1966), an American botanist *

Robert MacLeod Hodgson Sir Robert MacLeod Hodgson, (25 February 1874 – 18 October 1956) was a British diplomat and consul. Hodgson was born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, the son of the Reverend Robert Hodgson, founder of West Bromwich Albion Football Club. He wa ...

(1874–1956), British diplomat *

Robin Hodgson, Baron Hodgson of Astley Abbotts Robin Granville Hodgson, Baron Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, (born 25 April 1942) is a British Conservative Party politician and life peer. Early life and education Hodgson was born in 1942 in Leamington Spa, son of Henry Edward Hodgson. He w ...

(born 1942), British politician * Roger Hodgson (born 1950), English singer/songwriter *

Shadworth Hodgson Shadworth Hollway Hodgson, FBA (1832 – 13 June 1912) was an English philosopher. Biography He worked independently, without academic affiliation. He was acknowledged by William James as a forerunner of Pragmatism, although he viewed his work ...

(1832–1912), English philosopher *

Sharon Hodgson Sharon Hodgson (born 1 April 1966) is a British Labour Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Washington and Sunderland West, previously Gateshead East and Washington West, since 2005. Hodgson was appointed as the Par ...

(born 1966), British politician * Sharyn Hodgson (born 1968), Australian actress who appeared in ''Home and Away'' * Stuart Milton Hodgson (born 1924), Canadian commissioner * Studholme Hodgson (1708–1798), British field marshal * Sydney Hodgson (died 1591), English Roman Catholic lawyer and martyr *

Telfair Hodgson Telfair Hodgson (March 14, 1840September 11, 1893) was an American Episcopal priest and academic administrator. He was the dean of the Theological Department at Sewanee: The University of the South from 1878 to 1893, and vice chancellor from 1879 ...

(1840–1893), American Episcopal priest and academic administrator * Telfair Hodgson Jr. (1876–1952), American academic administrator, banker, developer * Thomas Hodgson (disambiguation) * Walter Joseph Hodgson (1924-1978) (Lt.Col, USAF, Retired) American Helicopter Test Pilot, one of only three men to fly the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar, and the only two-time recipient of the Frederick L. Feinberg Memorial Award (1960, 1979) *

W. N. Hodgson William Noel Hodgson MC (3 January 1893 – 1 July 1916) was an English poet. During the First World War, he published stories and poems under the pen name Edward Melbourne. Early life and education Hodgson was the fourth and youngest child o ...

(1893–1916), First World War poet who published under the pen name Edward Melbourne *

Wil Hodgson Wil Hodgson (born 1978) is a non-binary English comedian. They have lived in Chippenham their whole life and began performing comedy in 2003. Prior to this, they had worked part-time as a lecturer at Wiltshire College and had a stint training ...

(born 1978), English stand-up comedian * William Hodgson (disambiguation) ;Sportspeople: *

Arthur Hodgson (footballer) Arthur Edward Clarence Hodgson (8 January 1926 – 12 May 2003) was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and North Western Football Union (NWFU). Born in Sydney but raised in Queenstown, Tasmania, H ...

(born 1926), Australian rules footballer * Aub Hodgson (1912–1982), Australian rugby union player *

Billy Hodgson William Hodgson (9 July 1935 – 2022) was a Scottish footballer who played as a winger or inside forward. Career Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Hodgson started his career with Dunoon Athletic before joining St Johnstone in 1954. He had a loa ...

(born 1935), Scottish footballer *

(born 1978), Australian rugby league player *

Charlie Hodgson Charles Christopher Hodgson (born 12 November 1980) is a retired English rugby union player, having previously been a player for Sale Sharks and Saracens. His position was fly-half and he is the leading Premiership points scorer of all time. ...

(born 1980), rugby union player *

(born 1990), Canadian ice hockey player *

Dan Hodgson Daniel W. "Hodge" Hodgson (born August 29, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player of Cree heritage who played 114 National Hockey League games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks. He won the Memorial Cup as a memb ...

(born 1965), Canadian ice hockey player * Dan Hodgson (cricketer) (born 1990), English cricketer * Geoffrey Hodgson (cricketer) (born 1938), English cricketer * Gordon Hodgson (1904–1951), South African-born English footballer, cricketer and baseball player * Gordon Hodgson (footballer) (1952–1999), English footballer * Isaac Hodgson (1828–1867), English cricketer * Joe Hodgson (born 1988), 2012 British supermoto quad champion *

, English rugby league footballer * Michael Hodgson (born 1979), Australian rugby league player *

Neil Hodgson Neil Stuart Hodgson (born 20 November 1973) is a British former motorcycle racer, who won the 2000 British Superbike Championship, and the 2003 Superbike World Championship titles. He then went on to have a moderately successful four years in t ...

, English motorcycle racer *

Nick Hodgson (swimmer) Nick Hodgson (born 26 November 1964) is a British swimmer. Swimming career Hodgson competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Olympics. He represented England in the 200 metres butterfly, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisba ...

(born 1964), British swimmer *

Pat Hodgson Patrick Shannon Hodgson (born January 30, 1944) is a former American football wide receiver. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins in 1966. He played college football at the University of Georgia. After his ...

(born 1944), US American football player * Philip Hodgson (born 1935), English cricketer * Rick Hodgson (born 1956), Canadian ice hockey player *

Robert Hodgson (cricketer) Robert William Hodgson (born 22 February 1973, in Launceston, Tasmania), is a former Australian cricketer, who played for Tasmania. He attended the Australian Cricket Academy in 1996, but due to injury hasn't played for Tasmania since 1999. ...

(born 1973), Australian cricketer *

Roy Hodgson Roy Hodgson (born 9 August 1947) is a former English football manager and player. He managed 22 different teams in eight countries, beginning in Sweden with Halmstads BK in the 1976 season. He later guided the Switzerland national team to th ...

(born 1947), English football manager *

Rusty Hodgson Russell (Rust man) Frank Hodgson (born 29 March 1981) in Hutton Rudby, Cleveland,Bamford, R.(2007). ''Speedway Yearbook 2007''. is a speedway rider in the United Kingdom, who rode with the Redcar Bears in the Premier League. He is the son of ...

(born 1981), British motorcycle racer *

Ted Hodgson Edward James "Ted" Hodgson (born June 30, 1945) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played four games in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins during the 1966–67 season. Hodgson also played 107 games in the World ...

(born 1945), Canadian ice hockey player *

Tim Hodgson Timothy Philip Hodgson (born 27 March 1975) is a former English cricketer. Hodgson was a left-handed batsman. He was born at Guildford, Surrey, while he was educated at Wellington College and Durham University. Hodgson made his debut for Ess ...

(born 1975), English cricketer ;Fictional characters: * Tom Hodgson, a character from '' Channel Zero'', portrayed by Brandon Scott Hodgson can also be a given name: *

Hodgson Pratt Hodgson Pratt (10 January 1824 – 26 February 1907) was an English pacifist who is credited with founding the International Arbitration and Peace Association in 1880. Early life Born at Bath, Somerset on 10 January 1824, he was the eldest of fi ...

(1824–1907), English pacifist

References

Bibliography

Fischer, David Hackett David Hackett Fischer (born December 2, 1935) is University Professor of History Emeritus at Brandeis University. Fischer's major works have covered topics ranging from large macroeconomic and cultural trends (''Albion's Seed,'' ''The Great Wave'' ...

(1989) '' Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America'' (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press). * Fraser, George MacDonald (1971) ''The Steel Bonnets: The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Reivers'' (London: Barrie and Jenkins). ''Antiquarian and Archaeological Society'', New Series, 25, pp. 244–49. * Hanks, Patrick, Richard Coates and Peter McClure, eds. (2016) ''The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland'', volume 2 (Oxford: Oxford University Press) * Reaney, P. H. (1958) ''A Dictionary of English Surnames'', first edition (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul). * Robb, G. (2018). ''The Debatable Land: The Lost World Between Scotland and England'' (London: Picador) * Surtees, Robert (1820) ''History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham'', volume 2 (London: Nichols). {{surname English-language surnames Surnames of English origin Patronymic surnames