Hodgson

Hodgson is a surname of English origin. It is a patronymic name formed from a given name such as Hodg or Hodge, with the suffix -son indicating “son of.” Over time, Hodgson has acquired several variant spellings, including Hodson and Hodgson (with minor phonetic variants in different regions). The name is historically associated with the north of England, but it is now found throughout the British Isles and in countries that experienced English-speaking immigration, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The surname Hodgson is carried by many individuals across various fields, including sports, academia, politics, and the arts. In contemporary times, one of the best-known bearers is Roy Hodgson (born 1946), an English football manager who has led multiple clubs and the national team. Beyond him, the name appears in public life in numerous countries, reflecting the broader distribution of English surnames through migration and cultural exchange.

In genealogical and historical contexts, Hodgson can appear in parish records, census data, and local histories across northern England, with researchers sometimes noting regional concentrations and family lineages that extend into later centuries. As with many surnames, the exact origin of a given Hodgson family may be illustrated by its local traditions and documents.

See also Hodson (surname) for a closely related surname and notes on regional variations.