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Origins
of 'Hodgson'
Hodgson
and variants can be traced by family trees
back to 14th c England. Its derivation is Anglo-Saxon, Norman, and/or
Viking, subject to current disputation and research by Hodgson historians.
Two hypotheses: Germanic or Scandinavian origins.
Germanic:
from Hodge which, in turn, comes from Roger. Roger has its own roots
in either Hrothgar or Hrodgar, both Old German. Roger came with the
Normans, having roots in Hrodgar. Hrothgar was already in England
prior to 1066. Those who bore the latter Angle (Anglo-Saxon) name
were the same stock as the Normans with Roger. Hence both had origins
south of Denmark and in northwest Germany near the River Elbe.
Scandinavian:
from Norway-Sweden via Viking settlers across north of England. One
explanation - that Hodgson is related to Odda, a name not in Anglo-Saxon
language. Hodgson may derive from Old Norse Oddgeir-son. Odesune is
in the Domesday Book.
Definitions
of Hodgson
If Hodge evolved
from Hrodgar (before 10th c) Hodgson may have come from 'son of Hodge.'
Hrodger, which came to mean 'rustic', may have come from two Danish
syllables 'hroi' and 'gar', or 'glorious spear carrier'.
In Norse mythology
the father of their gods was Odin who brought war into the world.
The mark of Odin was his spear. Teutonic or ancient German tribes believed
that first drawing of blood was sacred so battles began by hurling a
spear into the enemy's lines dedicated to Odin. Was this the 'fame spear'
or 'leader spear'? Was his name Oddgeir or Hrodgar, corrupted by the
Normans to Roger?
Anglo-Saxons
and Scandinavians share Teutonic roots and the Normans (North Men)
were Vikings! Earliest forms of Hodgson share roots to Old German, French
and Old Norse. From Old German or Anglo-Saxon, Hodgson is 'son of Hrodgar'
or 'son of fame spear'. From the French it is 'son of Roger' also 'son
of fame spear'. The Norse word for point of spear or arrowhead is Odd,
akin to Odin. From Old Norse the name can be either 'son of Oddr' or
'son of Oddgeir' meaning 'son of arrowhead' or 'son of leader spear'.
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