Hoggs

The surname Hoggs originated in England and Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hog," referring to a domesticated pig or swine. The name likely emerged as an occupational surname for someone who raised or herded pigs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hoggs appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests the name had already established itself in parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the late 12th century, a man named William Hogg was recorded as a landowner in Northumberland, England. Around the same time, a Robert Hogge is mentioned in records from Berwickshire, Scotland, indicating the name's presence in both England and Scotland during this era.

The surname Hoggs may also have originated from various place names containing the word "hog," such as Hoggeston in Yorkshire or Hoggrigg in Westmorland. These place names likely referred to areas associated with pig farming or grazing lands for swine.

In the 14th century, a notable individual named John Hogg was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York, England. Another early record mentions a Thomas Hogge who served as a bailiff in Scarborough, Yorkshire, in the late 15th century.

During the 16th century, a Scottish family named Hogg gained prominence in the Borders region. One member, James Hogg, was a renowned poet and novelist, often referred to as the "Ettrick Shepherd" (1770-1835). He is celebrated for his works depicting rural life in the Scottish Borders.

Other notable individuals with the surname Hoggs include Robert Hogg (1818-1897), an English horticulturist and writer on gardening subjects, and Quintin Hogg (1845-1903), a British philanthropist and founder of the Regent Street Polytechnic, now known as the University of Westminster.