UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone living near a hedge or in a wooded area.
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Hodgers surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 64, ranked #34,098, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bettws, St Pancras and St Leonard Bromley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hodgers is 176 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 137.0%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
64
2016, ranked #34,098
Peak year
1861
176 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hodgers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hodgers surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 176 | #13,335 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 146 | #18,664 |
| 1901 | historical | 51 | #28,492 |
| 1911 | historical | 111 | #21,392 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 65 | #31,605 |
| 2000 | modern | 55 | #32,609 |
| 2001 | modern | 56 | #32,379 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 57 | #32,704 |
| 2004 | modern | 59 | #32,787 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 74 | #33,167 |
| 2011 | modern | 67 | #33,704 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 64 | #34,098 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bettws, St Pancras, St Leonard Bromley, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bettws | Montgomeryshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hodgers surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hodgers, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hodgers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hodgers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hodgers is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hodgers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hodgers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hodgers has its origins in England and dates back to the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hod," which referred to a hood or a covering for the head. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to someone who made or sold hoods or cloaks.
The name's earliest known recorded instances can be traced back to Yorkshire, where it appeared in various forms such as Hodder, Hodger, and Hodgers. One of the earliest documented references is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, which mentions a John Hodder.
In the 15th century, the Hodgers surname began to appear in other parts of England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. Records from this period include entries such as William Hodger, mentioned in the Lancashire Wills of 1520, and John Hodgers, recorded in the Cheshire Wills of 1592.
One notable figure bearing this surname was Nicholas Hodgers, a merchant and alderman from Bristol, who lived in the late 16th century. He was involved in the trade of various goods, including wine and cloth, and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1590.
In the 17th century, the Hodgers surname gained prominence in the village of Hoddlesden, near Blackburn in Lancashire. This area was known for its textile industry, and it is likely that some Hodgers families were involved in the production or trade of woolen goods during this time.
Another individual of note was Thomas Hodgers, a renowned clockmaker from London who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was highly respected for his craftsmanship and contributed significantly to the development of timekeeping technology during that era.
In the 18th century, the Hodgers surname spread further across England, with mentions in various parish records and historical documents. One such example is William Hodgers, a prominent landowner from Staffordshire, who was born in 1712 and owned substantial property in the region.
As the centuries progressed, the Hodgers surname continued to be found throughout various parts of England, with some families migrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other countries around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hodgers surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Hodgers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 3.42x |
| Devon | 7 | 12.78x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 3.52x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.72x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 4.41x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 2.43x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.92x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.82x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.78x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth Charles The in Devon leads with 5 Hodgers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 207.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Charles The | 5 | 207.47x |
| Govan | 3 | 14.25x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 3 | 53.57x |
| St Botolph Bishopsgate | 2 | 540.54x |
| Westminster St John | 2 | 62.31x |
| Bocking | 1 | 322.58x |
| Bulwell | 1 | 129.87x |
| Chagford | 1 | 769.23x |
| Chester St Mary On Hill | 1 | 200.00x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 16.10x |
| Crich | 1 | 370.37x |
| Exeter St David | 1 | 212.77x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 4.36x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 5.27x |
| Ripon | 1 | 163.93x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 4.72x |
| Whitehaven | 1 | 82.64x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hodgers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hodgers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Hodgers surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 64 in 2016. That gives Hodgers a modern rank of #34,098.
A topographic surname referring to someone living near a hedge or in a wooded area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hodgers bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.