This name is the patronymic (i.e. meaning "son of") form of the diminutive "Hodge", itself a pet form of the personal name "Roger", introduced into Britain by the Normans after 1066 and combining with the pre-existing Anglo-Saxon "Hrodgr". The English often created pet forms of French names beginning with "R" into one with an "H", it being an easier sound to pronounce, so we have "Hobb" from Robert, "Hick" from Richard and "Hodge" from Roger. The name development has included "Richard Hoggekynes" (1445, Norfolk), Robert Hodgekin (1524, Suffolk), and Charles Hodgskines (1690, Shropshire). In the modern idiom spellings include "Hotchkin", "Hodgkin(s)", "Hodgins", "Hodgkiss", and "Hotchkiss". In 1602 Richard Abby and Elizabeth Hodgkins were married in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Hochekyn, which was dated 1327, Staffordshire Subsidy Rolls, during the reign of King Edward 11, "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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