The Hobson surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 17,043 people carried this name — #2,128 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 17,300 people counted. That is up 3% from 16,517 in 2000.

See Hobson on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Hobson surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Robert + -son.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Hobson» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Robert’.

An early record he cites: John Hobbes, Somerset, 1327–28 (1 Edward III) — Kirby's Quest (Somerset).

His entry covers Hobbs, Hobson and Hobbes.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 387 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 11 births for the Hobson name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 500 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 7
Leinster 3
Munster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Hobson was found among the farmers of Yorkshire, West Riding: 26 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Yorkshire, West Riding 26

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

54 families named Hobson, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 285 people lived in those households, 5.3 to a family on average. The table counts it together with one other spelling. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 20
Virginia 19
Massachusetts 7
Pennsylvania 3
Maine 2
New York 2
New Hampshire 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 245 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Hobson in American newspapers,
1898–1906.

Newspaper page from Evening Star carrying the name Hobson
Evening Star 1906-05-03
Newspaper page from New-york Tribune carrying the name Hobson
New-york Tribune 1898-06-12
Newspaper page from Evening Star carrying the name Hobson
Evening Star 1904-03-10

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Hobson in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

43,812 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hobson. The most, 6,533, date from the 1900s. Victoria has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Queensland, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 13,756
Queensland 13,525
New South Wales 11,754
Western Australia 1,850
Tasmania 1,520
South Australia 1,153
ACT (Canberra) 192
Northern Territory 9

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hobson.

Who carried it

People named Hobson,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Paul Hobson d. 1666
  • Barbara Joan Tilling d. 1968
  • Dorothy Hobson d. 1699
  • Gertrude Rider d. 1920
  • Thomas Hobson d. 1936
  • Elizabeth Hobson d. 1902

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Hobson,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,565 records

1,565 records of the Hobson name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 583
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 296
  • Other U.S. records 686
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Christopher Mark Hobson

    Born 1951; from Colorado Springs, Colorado. U.S. Army, medical specialist; died of wounds 1970 in Cambodia. Buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Colorado.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record David W. Hobson

    Born 1911 in Virginia. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; driver. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1975, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Annie Hobson

    Arrived at New York in 1882 aboard the Germanic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 27; servant. From London, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,565 records for Hobson in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,322 records

1,322 records of the Hobson name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 715
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 230
  • Other Australian records 377
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Edwin Hobson

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lord Lyndoch, sailing from London in 1836. Native of Sheffield, Yorkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1844. Married 1844 in Oatlands, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Richd Hobson

    Arrived in Victoria in 1856 aboard the Mermaid, aged 45; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Harold Kyme Hobson

    Gentleman of Ballarat, Victoria; died 1976.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,322 records for Hobson in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada129 records

129 records of the Hobson name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 48
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 29
  • Other Canadian records 52
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alex Hobson

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Peruvian, landing at Quebec, bound for Guelph, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Jessie Samuel Hobson

    Died 1994, aged 76; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Helen Agnes Hobson

    Buried in 1993 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 54.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 129 records for Hobson in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom70 records

70 records of the Hobson name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 53
  • Welsh wills index cards 7
  • Other British records 10
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Hobson

    Buried in 1915 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 51.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Margaret Hobson

    Will proved in 1928; of Llandudno, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Harry Hobson

    Born 1892. Died 1917. Named in the George Heriot's School roll of honour, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 70 records for Hobson in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands58 records

58 records of the Hobson name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 29
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 28
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Adriana Magdalena Hobson

    Married in 1832 in Hellevoetsluis. Died 1864 in Hellevoetsluis, aged 74.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Voorne-Putten (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joänna Henrika Hobson

    Born 1829 in Hellevoetsluis. Married in 1859 in Hellevoetsluis. Died 1878 in Den Helder, aged 48.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Voorne-Putten (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Adriana Catharina Hobson

    Born 1831 in Hellevoetsluis. Died 1915 in Veldhoven.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Voorne-Putten (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 58 records for Hobson in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand33 records

33 records of the Hobson name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 29
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 2
  • Other New Zealand records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth C. Hobson

    Died 1902, aged 18; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Robert Hobson

    Died 1923, aged 53; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jessie McAlister Hobson

    Died 2001, aged 77; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 33 records for Hobson in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Hobson name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Rodney Pye Hobson

    Born 1909 in Great Britain; died 1994 in Bédarieux (Hérault).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Madeleine Jeanne Ellen Hobson

    Born 1909 in L'Union (Haute-Garonne); died 2000 in Nantua (Ain).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Hobson.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Hobson is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Hobson volume
Scroll to Top