NameCensus.

UK surname

Hodgkiss

An English surname originating as a diminutive or nickname for Roger.

In the 1881 census there were 1,137 people recorded with the Hodgkiss surname, ranking it #3,519 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,185, ranked #2,967, up from #3,519 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase, Shropshire and South Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hodgkiss is 2,303 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.2%.

1881 census count

1,137

Ranked #3,519

Modern count

2,185

2016, ranked #2,967

Peak year

2010

2,303 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hodgkiss had 1,137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,519 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,185 in 2016, ranked #2,967.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,615 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hodgkiss surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hodgkiss surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hodgkiss surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hodgkiss over time

The 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 652 #3,985
1861 historical 537 #4,889
1881 historical 1,137 #3,519
1891 historical 984 #4,201
1901 historical 1,585 #3,258
1911 historical 1,615 #3,009
1997 modern 2,122 #2,910
1998 modern 2,294 #2,817
1999 modern 2,275 #2,850
2000 modern 2,252 #2,869
2001 modern 2,240 #2,814
2002 modern 2,272 #2,838
2003 modern 2,178 #2,887
2004 modern 2,182 #2,891
2005 modern 2,177 #2,862
2006 modern 2,173 #2,867
2007 modern 2,160 #2,900
2008 modern 2,190 #2,894
2009 modern 2,254 #2,889
2010 modern 2,303 #2,893
2011 modern 2,283 #2,873
2012 modern 2,224 #2,893
2013 modern 2,264 #2,892
2014 modern 2,275 #2,895
2015 modern 2,210 #2,933
2016 modern 2,185 #2,967

Geography

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Where Hodgkiss' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Dean, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase, Shropshire, South Staffordshire and Lichfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 003 Cannock Chase
2 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
3 Cannock Chase 004 Cannock Chase
4 South Staffordshire 002 South Staffordshire
5 Lichfield 001 Lichfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hodgkiss

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hodgkiss surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hodgkiss

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hodgkiss, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hodgkiss surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hodgkiss household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hodgkiss is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hodgkiss is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hodgkiss falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hodgkiss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hodgkiss, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hodgkiss

The surname Hodgkiss originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hocg," meaning hock or heel, and "cys," meaning a kiss or embrace. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone with a distinctive way of walking or embracing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hodgkiss can be found in the Nottinghamshire county records from the late 16th century, where it appeared as "Hodgekys." This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spelling conventions were not yet widely established.

The Hodgkiss surname has been documented in various historical records throughout the centuries. In the 17th century, a William Hodgkiss was mentioned in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham. Additionally, the name appeared in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674 for the county of Staffordshire.

During the 18th century, the Hodgkiss family seemed to have established a presence in the West Midlands region of England. Records show that a John Hodgkiss was born in Wolverhampton in 1726, while a Thomas Hodgkiss was recorded in the parish registers of Walsall in 1784.

One notable individual with the Hodgkiss surname was Samuel Hodgkiss, a prominent English architect who lived from 1786 to 1867. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in Birmingham, including the Town Hall and the Unitarian Church in the city's center.

Another significant figure was William Hodgkiss, born in 1805 in Staffordshire. He was a noted engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early steam engines and agricultural machinery during the Industrial Revolution.

In the 19th century, the Hodgkiss name also appeared in historical records related to the American Civil War. A Union soldier named James Hodgkiss from Indiana was documented as having served in the 20th Indiana Infantry Regiment during the conflict.

Throughout its history, the Hodgkiss surname has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the Midlands region. Some of the place names that may have influenced the spelling or pronunciation of the name include Hodgehill, a district in Birmingham, and Hodge Hill, a village in Nottinghamshire.

While the Hodgkiss surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and potential origins in Old English language and culture make it a fascinating subject for study in the field of onomatology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hodgkiss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hodgkiss surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 399 Hodgkiss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.73x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 399 10.73x
Lancashire 238 1.82x
Worcestershire 150 10.43x
Warwickshire 88 3.17x
Shropshire 68 7.15x
Middlesex 51 0.46x
Yorkshire 31 0.28x
Cheshire 23 0.95x
Durham 21 0.64x
Derbyshire 12 0.70x
Gloucestershire 11 0.51x
Monmouthshire 9 1.13x
Surrey 9 0.17x
Herefordshire 4 0.89x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.27x
Devon 3 0.13x
Hampshire 3 0.13x
Channel Islands 1 0.31x
Denbighshire 1 0.24x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Kent 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 84 Hodgkiss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.83x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 84 60.83x
Little Hulton 59 272.64x
Birmingham 51 5.51x
Wolverhampton 51 17.84x
Farnworth 36 45.98x
Dudley 33 18.87x
Kingswinford 29 21.48x
Aston 28 3.66x
Tipton 28 24.60x
Worsley 27 33.52x
Madeley 26 74.52x
Cannock 22 33.91x
Lye 21 87.72x
Oldbury 20 28.26x
Islington London 18 1.69x
Ince In Makerfield 15 24.67x
Rowley Regis 15 14.48x
Walsall Foreign 15 7.81x
Penkridge 14 145.99x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 3.55x
Wednesbury 14 15.07x
Ashton In Makerfield 13 34.94x
Kimberworth 13 21.46x
Burslem 12 11.27x
Monk Bretton 12 108.60x
Powick 11 110.44x
Rugeley 11 41.23x
Belbroughton 10 134.05x
Claines 10 25.34x
Smallthorne 10 72.46x
Wollescote 10 86.36x
Norton In Moors 9 45.73x
Pendleton In Salford 9 5.78x
Tettenhall 9 39.60x
Wellington 9 16.83x
Westleigh 9 30.32x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 2.80x
Barrow In Furness 8 4.50x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.67x
Bromsgrove 8 16.53x
Hampstead London 8 4.66x
Hetton Le Hole 8 19.27x
Lambeth 8 0.83x
Rushall 8 36.56x
St Luke London 8 4.53x
Stone 8 16.82x
Bushbury 7 104.79x
Edgbaston 7 8.13x
Kearsley 7 25.45x
Oldham 7 1.66x
Salford 7 1.82x
Lindridge 6 164.84x
Newport 6 15.80x
Stourbridge 6 16.21x
Walton On Hill 6 8.48x
Wednesfield 6 10.97x
West Bromwich 6 2.82x
Westbury On Trym 6 8.20x
Alberbury 5 223.21x
Audley 5 13.59x
Bilston 5 6.94x
Brampton 5 20.75x
Cockerton 5 47.57x
East Rainton 5 78.86x
Great Bolton 5 2.89x
St Martin 5 46.99x
Appleton 4 72.60x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 4.07x
Birkenhead 4 2.06x
Clifton 4 40.77x
Drayton In Hales 4 20.40x
Elton In Congleton 4 193.24x
Halesowen 4 31.67x
Kidderminster Borough 4 4.75x
Lenton 4 11.44x
Tewkesbury 4 20.75x
Aldershot 3 3.97x
Bradwall 3 120.00x
Clerkenwell London 3 1.15x
Willesden 3 2.89x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hodgkiss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 95
Sarah 57
Elizabeth 41
Alice 28
Ann 27
Eliza 24
Jane 23
Emma 21
Ellen 16
Hannah 16
Martha 13
Annie 12
Emily 11
Clara 8
Amy 7
Betsy 7
Charlotte 7
Catherine 6
Edith 5
Esther 5
Harriet 5
Caroline 4
Fanny 4
Louisa 4
Selina 4
Susannah 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Jemima 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Ester 2
Isabella 2
Kezia 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Susanna 2
Agness 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbh. 1
Elizebeth 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hodgkiss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 69
John 67
Thomas 59
James 41
George 30
Joseph 28
Henry 22
Robert 22
Samuel 22
Richard 19
Edward 14
Alfred 11
Charles 11
Arthur 8
Benjamin 7
Frederick 7
Albert 6
Enoch 5
Herbert 5
Walter 5
Andrew 4
David 4
Edwin 4
Abraham 3
Daniel 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Levi 3
Lewis 3
Wm. 3
Cornelius 2
Edmend 2
Emmanuel 2
Francis 2
Isaiah 2
Jas. 2
Johnson 2
Josiah 2
Livsey 2
Thos. 2
Adam 1
Alexander 1
Benjm. 1
Benjn. 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Ellis 1
Harvey 1
Infant 1

FAQ

Hodgkiss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hodgkiss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,137 people were recorded with the Hodgkiss surname. That placed it at #3,519 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hodgkiss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,185 in 2016. That gives Hodgkiss a modern rank of #2,967.

What does the Hodgkiss surname mean?

An English surname originating as a diminutive or nickname for Roger.

What does the Hodgkiss map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hodgkiss bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.