NameCensus.

UK surname

Hodsdon

A locational surname derived from the town of Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Hodsdon surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 187, ranked #20,488, down from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Shepway and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hodsdon is 240 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

187

2016, ranked #20,488

Peak year

1999

240 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hodsdon had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016, ranked #20,488.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 215 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hodsdon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hodsdon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hodsdon 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 106 #16,512
1861 historical 111 #19,429
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 214 #14,517
1911 historical 215 #14,290
1997 modern 200 #17,618
1998 modern 227 #16,754
1999 modern 240 #16,226
2000 modern 222 #17,032
2001 modern 231 #16,365
2002 modern 224 #17,042
2003 modern 204 #17,909
2004 modern 197 #18,368
2005 modern 193 #18,572
2006 modern 188 #19,023
2007 modern 185 #19,402
2008 modern 181 #19,875
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 202 #19,322
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 176 #20,915
2013 modern 184 #20,643
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 187 #20,488

Geography

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Where Hodsdons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Lambeth and Monken Hadley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Shepway, North Lincolnshire and York. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Monken Hadley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 004 Barnet
2 Shepway 011 Shepway
3 Barnet 001 Barnet
4 North Lincolnshire 002 North Lincolnshire
5 York 020 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hodsdon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hodsdon

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Hodsdon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hodsdon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hodsdon is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hodsdon is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hodsdon falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hodsdon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hodsdon

The surname Hodsdon is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "hod" meaning "hood" or "hooded" and "dun" meaning "hill" or "down." This suggests that the name may have referred to individuals who resided near a hooded or wooded hill or down.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated around 1273, which mentions a John de Hodesdone. This entry provides evidence of the surname's existence during the 13th century and its association with a particular geographic location.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Hodesdon, Hoddesdon, and Hodysdon, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that era. For instance, the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1346 recorded a John Hoddesdon, while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332 listed a Thomas Hodysdon.

The Hodsdon surname also has a connection to Hoddesdon, a town in Hertfordshire, England. This place name likely influenced the surname's evolution and may have been the original source of the name for some families.

One notable figure with the surname Hodsdon was Sir John Hodsdon (c. 1550-1608), an English soldier and administrator who served as the Governor of Harwich and Landguard Fort. He played a role in the defense of England against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Another individual of note was John Hodsdon (1610-1671), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Aylmerton in Norfolk. He was involved in religious disputes during the English Civil War period.

In the 17th century, the surname Hodsdon appeared in various records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1665, which listed several individuals with this name in counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

The Hodsdon surname also has a connection to the United States, with records showing individuals bearing this name among early settlers in New England. For example, John Hodsdon (1620-1679) was one of the first settlers in Kittery, Maine, arriving there in the late 1630s.

Throughout history, the Hodsdon surname has been associated with various professions and occupations, including clergymen, soldiers, administrators, and farmers. While the name may have originated from a specific geographic location, it has since spread to different parts of the English-speaking world, reflecting the migrations and movements of families over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hodsdon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hodsdon 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. Middlesex leads with 52 Hodsdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.28x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 52 5.28x
Buckinghamshire 17 28.54x
Essex 8 4.11x
Surrey 7 1.46x
Hampshire 5 2.48x
Kent 5 1.49x
Dorset 2 3.09x
Hertfordshire 2 2.95x
Northumberland 1 0.68x
Royal Navy 1 8.52x
Yorkshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Monken Hadley in Middlesex leads with 15 Hodsdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3846.15x.

Place Total Index
Monken Hadley 15 3846.15x
West Wycombe 14 1728.40x
Clerkenwell London 10 43.01x
West Ham 6 13.98x
Portsea 5 12.64x
Battersea 4 11.03x
Harrow On The Hill 4 203.05x
Woolwich 4 32.21x
Enfield 3 46.44x
Kensington London 3 5.48x
Wycombe 3 67.57x
East Barnet 2 148.15x
Hammersmith London 2 8.24x
Harrow 2 132.45x
Islington London 2 2.09x
Lambeth 2 2.33x
Pinner 2 232.56x
Portland 2 57.47x
Shoreditch London 2 4.68x
St Pancras London 2 2.52x
St Sepulchre London 2 138.89x
Thorpe Le Soken 2 1250.00x
Alnwick 1 39.68x
Chipping Barnet 1 384.62x
Maidstone 1 9.99x
Rastrick 1 36.90x
Royal Navy 1 9.97x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 5.05x
St Marylebone London 1 1.90x
Westminster St John 1 8.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Ellen 4
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Ann 2
Harriet 2
Nellie 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Hepzibah 1
Jane 1
Jinnie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Martha 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Violetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 8
Henry 6
William 6
John 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Joseph 3
Edward 2
Francis 2
George 2
Alan 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Victor 1
Walter 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Hodsdon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hodsdon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Hodsdon surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hodsdon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 187 in 2016. That gives Hodsdon a modern rank of #20,488.

What does the Hodsdon surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, England.

What does the Hodsdon map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hodsdon 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.