Surname Hopkinson - Meaning and Origin

Hopkinson: What does the surname Hopkinson mean?

The last name Hopkinson is an English surname that is believed to date back to at least the mid-14th or early 15th century. It is derived from the male personal name Hokke, a pet form of Robert, in combination with the Anglo-Saxon suffix, 'son', which was widely used to denote patronymics.

The Hopkinson family was first found in West Riding of Yorkshire where they claimed to be descended from Sir Robert de Hopkynton, from whom the family took their name. The family flourished in Yorkshire and nearby counties, eventually achieving the status of a respectable landed gentry. The arms borne by the Hopkinson family were a silver cross engworked between four trefoils on a red shield, and their crest was a hawk rising, wings disclosed, gold.

The name Hopkinson has spread throughout the UK, as well as other parts of Europe, and can be found in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries. In modern times, the Hopkinson family has continued to thrive and produce people of distinction. Notable members include the Australian-born conductor and composer John Hopkinson and the English folk musician, Roger Hopkinson.

Hopkinson: Where does the name Hopkinson come from?

The Hopkinson surname is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. The UK has the most widespread distribution, with the highest proportion of bearers of the name residing in Scotland, England, and Wales. The name was also found in small percentages in South Africa, New Zealand, and Ireland.

In the United States, the Hopkinson name is most commonly found in states with traditionally higher concentration of ethnic groups with a British Isles background, like Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. It is also concentrated in the southern states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.

In Canada, the majority of Hopkinsons can be found in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, with the highest concentrations being in British Columbia and Ontario.

Finally, in Australia the Hopkinson name is spread across the country, with a higher concentration in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia.

The Hopkinson family name is most concentrated in the countries previously mentioned, but has diminutive numbers in other countries across the world.

Variations of the surname Hopkinson

Hopkinson is an English surname originating from the medieval given name Hopkin. It is derived from a diminutive of the name Robert, which was commonly used in the Middle Ages. Variants of the name include Hopkyns, Hobkinn, Hobson, and Hopkin.

The variants of Hopkin contain the same root of the name, being "hop." Spelling variations of the name are mostly associated with pronunciation and the country of origin. Specifically, the Welsh spelling variant Hopkins is used more commonly in the United Kingdom, while the Standard English variant Hopkin is used more commonly outside of the United Kingdom.

Surnames associated with Hopkinson include Hopp, Hoppin, Hopping, Hopmann, Hoppmann, Hopfinger, and Hoppehorn. These surnames stem from less common variations of the given name Hopkin, and stem from similar root words such as "hop," "hopf," "man," and "horn".

The use of Hopkinson as a surname is quite common in the United States and Canada. As a combination of the variants of the given name Hopkin, it has been recorded in documents since as far back as the 16th century. In the United States, the highest concentrations of Hopkinson families are found in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

The meaning behind the surname Hopkinson is often debated. Some suggest that it is derived from old English which translates to "son of Hopkin," while others suggest that it is derived from a pet version of the name Robert. Ultimately, the origin of the name remains largely unknown.

Famous people with the name Hopkinson

• Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791): A member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• Joseph Hopkinson (1770-1842): Son of Francis Hopkinson, lawyer, Federalist Party leader, and United States Representative from Pennsylvania.
• Anthony Hopkinson (1790-1867): Civil engineer and author, he was the first to describe a novel water turbine.
• David Hopkinson (1844-1900): English journalist, poet, and short story writer.
• John Hopkinson (1849-1934): English electrical engineer and inventor, he developed the modern three-phase electric power system.
• Mark Hopkinson (1916-2006): English footballer who played for Liverpool in the 1930s and 1940s.
• Tom Hopkinson (1921-2010): English journalist, writer, and editor who served as the founding editor of Picture Post.
• Sir Derek George Hopkinston (1927-2014): English actor of stage, screen, and television, notably remembered for his role as Dr. Marks in Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy.
• Tolan Hopkinston (1941-2013): American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor, he was a part of the group The Isley Brothers.
• Felix Hopkinson (1962-2019): British actor, most known for his roles in plays such as As You Like It, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Les Miserables.
• Susan Hopkinson (1963-present): American film and television actress, most known for a guest starring role on an episode of The X-Files.
• Stephan Hopkinson (1965-present): English poet, author, and youth worker, his works have appeared in numerous anthologies and journals.
• Dave Hopkinston (1969-present): Canadian singer-songwriter and musician who released folk albums in the early 2000s.
• Yeardley Smith (1964-present): American actress, voice actress, writer, and painter who is best known for her role as Lisa Simpson on The Simpsons. Though not related by blood, Yeardley Smith was adopted at a young age by Ira and Joan Marie Hopkinson, officially changing her last name to Hopkinson in 1980.

Other surnames

Hopkins