Map of England showing where the Hodgkins arms are recorded
The Hodgkins arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Hodgkins arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Hodgkins Family in England
The surname Hodgkins is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Hodge. Hodge was a common medieval nickname for Roger, a name that became very popular in England after the Norman Conquest. By the time the family arrived in the American colonies, the name had been established for several generations in the English countryside. Records confirm that members of the Hodgkins family were settled in Gloucester, Massachusetts, as early as 1620. These early settlers were part of the initial wave of migration that shaped the coastal communities of New England. They were primarily involved in maritime trades and local farming, which were essential for survival in the harsh conditions of the early seventeenth century. Over time, the family name became deeply rooted in the history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony as they helped build the infrastructure of their new home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Roger
Derived from Germanic elements meaning famous spear or renowned spearman.
This name
HodgkinsA patronymic form meaning son of little Roger or son of Hodge.
also spelled
Hodgkinson
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Banks, Charles Edward, The Planters of the Commonwealth, 1930
Babson, John J., History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, including the Town of Rockport, 1860
Massachusetts State Archives, Colonial Records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1620–1686
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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