Hobson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hobson is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the given name for the son of Robert,which was originally derived from the nickname, Hob. [1]

Early Origins of the Hobson family

The surname Hobson was first found in Essex, where John Hobbessone was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. Another John, John Hobsone, was recorded in Wakefield, Yorkshirein 1327. [2]

In Somerset, William Hobbeson, was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III’s reign.) [3]

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Petrus Hobbeson, Willelmus Hobbeson, and Robertus Hobson. [1]

Early History of the Hobson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hobson research.

Hobson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hobson have been found, including Hobson, Hopson and others.

Early Notables of the Hobson family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: Thomas Hobson (1544?-1631), carrier of Cambridge, eldest son of Thomas Hobson and Elinor his wife, was born in or about 1544, probably at Buntingford, Hertfordshire, of which place his father was a native. “The father, a carrier by trade, who settled in Cambridge in 1561, was at the time of his death in 1568 one of the treasurers of the corporation. He devised his copyhold lands in Grantchester to his son Thomas, to whom he bequeathed ‘the team ware that he now goeth with, that is to say, the cart and eight horses.

Hobson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hobson is the 1,820^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [4] However, in Australia, the name Hobson is ranked the 632^ndmost popular surname with an estimated 6,191 people with that name. [5] And in New Zealand, the name Hobson is the 990^th popular surname with an estimated 760 people with that name. [6] The United Kingdom ranks Hobson as 626^th with 10,521 people. [7]

 Migration of the Hobson family to Ireland

Some of the Hobson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Hobson migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Hobson, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were : 

Hobson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Thomas Hobson, aged 12, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship “Bona Nova”
• Edward Hobson, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship “Bona Nova” [8]
• John Hobson, aged 25, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship “Globe”
• Mr. Edward Hobson, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship “Paul” in 1635 [9]
• Robert Hobson, who arrived in Virginia in 1647.