Surname Hoskins - Meaning and Origin

A Vibrant Tapestry: Discovering the Cultural and Historical Depths of Hoskins with iGENEA DNA Test

Delving into my family heritage through iGENEA DNA Test, I found an amazing meandering trail of history and culture informed by my surname. Hoskins, an Anglo-Saxon origin name, traces back to ancient Old English settlements and carries intriguing indicators of Celtic, Jewish, and Viking lineage. This exploration painted a vibrant and diverse picture, enriching my understanding of my family's historical journey.

G. Hoskins

Hoskins: What does the surname Hoskins mean?

Hoskins is an English surname that originated from a popular medieval first name 'Hoskin.' The surname is derived from the diminutive form of the name 'Roger,' a name commonly found in England, which was often shortened to 'Hodge.' The suffix "-kin," was added to indicate "son of." Therefore, Hoskins could be interpreted as "son of Hodge" or "little Hodge." The surname became popular throughout England particularly in areas such as Devon, London, and the East Midlands. It's important to note that like many surnames that were derived from common first names, there isn't typically a single unified family lineage associated with these surnames, but rather were shared by many unrelated families who happened to use the same popular name.

Hoskins: Where does the name Hoskins come from?

The surname Hoskins is of English origin, and it is derived from a diminutive form of the medieval personal name Roger. The original form of Roger was Hroðgar comprising of the elements hroð, meaning "fame", and gar, meaning "spear”. It changed to Roger as Normans introduced it in England where 'h' was dropped and it was affected by folk etymology associating it with Latin 'Rogerius'. The diminutive forms of Roger became Hodge or Hodgekin, and hence the surname Hodgekin which later became Hoskins after adding the suffix ‘s’ signifying "son of".

Today, the Hoskins surname is most common in the United States, England, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, it is the 2277th most common surname in the United States. In England, particularly it is more prevalent in the West Midlands region.

Variations of the surname Hoskins

The surname Hoskins has various spellings, variants and derivations, often influenced by regional dialects, phonetic spellings, and changes over time. Some common variants and spellings may include Hoskin, Hosken, Hoskyne, Hoskine, and Haskins. It may also occur as Hoskyn, Hoskyns, Haskin, and Hasken.

The surname Hoskins is believed to originate from the medieval English given name "Hoskin," which means 'son of little Hodge'. The diminutive "-kin" was often added to names in the Middle Ages to imply affection or familiarity. “Hodge” is a pet form of “Roger,” therefore implying that Hoskin literally means “Little or Son of Roger.”

Due to regional differences and Anglicization, this surname may also be found in other forms in different countries. It is not directly connected but may have similar variants as the Russian "Oskin," the Dutch "Hoskens," and the German "Hoske."

Surname origins are often complex with overlapping influences from different cultures, migrations, and linguistic changes. Therefore these variations all bear connections to the original derivation, displaying the evolution of the Hoskins name over centuries.

Famous people with the name Hoskins

• Robin Hoskins: He is an actor, best known for his role as Bernard in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit". His other film credits include Hook, The Cotton Club, Maurice and Dark Horse.
• Gail Hoskins: An animal rights activist, she was the founder of the Animal Justice Project in the UK.
• Jess Hoskins: She is an American voice actress, who has voiced characters in a variety of animated series and video games. Her roles include August in "The Legend of Korra" and Mistress Nine in "Sailor Moon".
• Gene Hoskins: He was an American football player, who played for the Houston Oilers and the Chicago Bears.
• Mark Hoskins: He is an award-winning film and television producer in New Zealand.
• Albert Hoskins: He was an Australian hockey player, representing his country in the 1956 Olympics.
• Robert Hoskins: He is an American record producer, songwriter and musician, having worked with some of the most successful artists in the world.
• Gary Hoskins: He is an American actor, best known for his roles in "The Shield" and "Six Feet Under".
• Thomas Hoskins: He was a British army officer who served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers during World War I. 10.Brian Hoskins: He is an American professor of atmospheric science at the University of California, Davis.

Other surnames

HoskinHoskinson