The Hodgson surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 10,173 people carried this name — #3,511 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 29,000 people counted. That is up 3% from 9,908 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Hodgson surname

A surname transferred from the given name.

From Hodge + -son.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Hodgson» (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 Roger’.

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

His entry covers Hodge and Hodgson.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 389 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 33 people named Hodgson.

Most of them — 30 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 2 départements, most often Paris.

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

Where they were born

Born outside France 30
Paris 2
Yvelines 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

22 people named Hodgson live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Bern.

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

Where they live today

Bern 7
Thurgau 6
Zurich 6
Fribourg 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

33 people named Hodgson is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 33

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Hodgson was found among the farmers of 9 counties.

It was most frequent in Durham: 100 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 100. 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

Durham 100
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 68
Cumberland and Westmorland 57
Yorkshire, West Riding 33
Lancashire 30
Northumberland 20
Lincolnshire 13
Derbyshire 9

And 1 more county.

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 Scotland’s registers today

Hodgson was recorded 31 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 793rd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 33. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

29 families named Hodgson, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 187 people lived in those households, 6.4 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. 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

Maryland 10
North Carolina 7
New Hampshire 4
Pennsylvania 4
New York 2
Virginia 1
South Carolina 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

Hodgson in American newspapers,
1873–1912.

Newspaper page from Rock Island Argus carrying the name Hodgson
Rock Island Argus 1912-02-21
Newspaper page from The Warner Sun carrying the name Hodgson
The Warner Sun 1887-03-11
Newspaper page from The Fremont Weekly Journal carrying the name Hodgson
The Fremont Weekly Journal 1873-05-23

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,372 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Hodgson in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

105,352 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hodgson. The most, 15,869, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 35,004
Victoria 25,353
Queensland 18,085
Western Australia 9,937
Tasmania 8,639
South Australia 7,295
ACT (Canberra) 750
Northern Territory 119

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

Who carried it

People named Hodgson,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Sydney Hodgson d. 1591 · politician
  • William Hodgson d. 1806 · painter
  • Simon Hodgson d. 1992
  • Sophia Elizabeth Hesketh d. 1886
  • Alexander Hodgson d. 1713
  • Ursula Alison Paterson Hodgson d. 1957

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

In the public record

People named Hodgson,
in the records of 8 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 States1,578 records

1,578 records of the Hodgson name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 482
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 350
  • Other U.S. records 746
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Gordon G. Hodgson

    Born 1923 in Minnesota. Enlisted 1944 at Fort Snelling; farm hand from Hennepin County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1988, buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (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 Alvan S. Hodgson

    Born 1919 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1941 at Springfield; office clerk from Middlesex County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Dell Park Cemetery, Natick, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Hollie J. Hodgson

    Born 1916 in Texas. Enlisted 1941 at Dallas; farm hand from Bowie County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Center Ridge Cemetery, Maud, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,578 records for Hodgson in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · 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: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain).

Australia2,999 records

2,999 records of the Hodgson name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,461
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 626
  • Other Australian records 912
  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 Margaret Hodgson

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Nautilus, sailing from Woolwich in 1838. Native of Liverpool, Lancashire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1841.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Sarah Hodgson

    Died 1879 in Richmond, Tasmania, aged 59. Will registered in Tasmania in 1879.

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

    Arrived in Victoria in 1898 aboard the Orient, aged 25.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,999 records for Hodgson 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) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (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); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada449 records

449 records of the Hodgson name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 236
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 56
  • Other Canadian records 157
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Isabella Elizabeth Hodgson

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 21; buried at Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Hodgson

    Came to Ontario in 1876 aboard the Sardinian, landing at Quebec, bound for Orangeville, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Thomas Hodgson

    Buried in 1988 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 57.

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

Showing 3 of 449 records for Hodgson in Canada.

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

United Kingdom180 records

180 records of the Hodgson name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 140
  • Stirling Council burial records 15
  • Other British records 25
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mark Hodgson

    Buried in 1913 at Valley Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 60.

    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 Ella Beatrice Maud Hodgson

    Will proved in 1930; of Glan Conway, Denbigh.

    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 Alfred Bruce Hodgson

    Born 1899. Died 1918. Named in the University of Edinburgh roll of honour, 1914-1919.

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

Showing 3 of 180 records for Hodgson in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). 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).

New Zealand74 records

74 records of the Hodgson name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 51
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 9
  • Other New Zealand records 14
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Gwendoline Annetta Hodgson

    Died 1961, aged 53; buried at Ruru Lawn, 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 William Paul Hodgson

    Died 1985, aged 62; buried at Fairhall 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 James Robert Hodgson

    Died 1999, aged 80; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 74 records for Hodgson in New Zealand.

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

Netherlands22 records

22 records of the Hodgson name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 11
  • Dutch population registers 10
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Ellen Hodgson

    Married in 1856 in Princenhage. Died 1880 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 77.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Harriett Hodgson

    Married in 1896 in Nieuwer-Amstel. Died 1925 in Bussum, aged 87.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Brian Hodgson

    Died 1858 in Arnhem, aged 90.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 22 records for Hodgson 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).

France9 records

9 records of the Hodgson 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 Edward Hodgson

    Born 1922 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Mandelieu-la-Napoule (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Sylvia Mary Hodgson

    Born 1935 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Ruffec (Charente).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 9 records for Hodgson in France.

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).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Hodgson name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Edward Lambert Hodgson

    Married in 1945 in Aalst; born 1922 in Ryhope Graafschap Durham.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)

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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Hodgson.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Hodgson 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.

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