Surname Hopkins - Meaning and Origin

iGENEA DNA Test: A Diverse Odyssey Into the Ancestral Trail of the Hopkins Surname

Stepping into the past through a riveting iGENEA DNA journey, I've uncovered the origins and history of my surname, Hopkins. This adventure took me back to the medieval periods in England and Wales, where the name first emerged. It also revealed a tapestry of ancestry, tracing Celtic roots, a potential Welsh connection, and interestingly, a Viking footprint, signifying the interplay of diverse cultures in my lineage.

L. Hopkins

Hopkins: What does the surname Hopkins mean?

The last name Hopkins is of English origin and primarily used by people located in the British Isles. It is derived from the given name "Hob" or "Robert" and the suffix "-kins" which means "son of". Hence, Hopkins essentially means "son of Hob" or "son of Robert". The usage of "-kins" is a diminutive term of endearment and denotes smallness, suggesting that originally it might have been used by or for a young Robert or a small person named Robert. In the medieval period, it was popular to form patronymic surnames this way, directly from father's given names. The name became popular during the 12th century, originally found in Cambridgeshire, England. Variations of the surname include Hopkinson, Hopkyns, and Hopkin.

Hopkins: Where does the name Hopkins come from?

The surname Hopkins is of English origin. It is a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the personal name of a male ancestor. In this case, it is derived from the medieval first name "Hob". "Hob" was a diminutive form of Robert and the suffix "-kins" denotes "son of". Thus, Hopkins can be interpreted as "son of Hob".

Hopkins initially emerged in England during the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, it spread due to immigration and colonization, particularly in the British Isles and North America. Today it is widely found in England, Wales, and the United States. According to the 2000 United States Federal Census, Hopkins ranked as the 173rd most common surname in the United States. It is also fairly common in Australia and New Zealand. In Ireland, it is commonly found in County Roscommon and County Longford. In Wales, it is particularly present in the southern counties of Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, and Breconshire.

Variations of the surname Hopkins

The surname Hopkins is of Welsh origin and is typically a patronymic name that means "son of Hob." Variations of the surname include Hopkin, Hopkinson, and Hopkind.

In the Middle Ages, Hopkins was spelled in many different ways as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. It can also occur as a variant spelling of Hobkinson. Surnames that evolved from Hopkins could include Hopp, Hoppe, and Hopps due to changes in pronunciation or spelling errors over time.

The surname underwent multiple changes throughout history, with occasional variants including Oppkyn, Apkin, Hopkyn, and Atkin. Variations in pronunciation and spelling often occurred due to the lack of standardized spelling before the 18th century. Many non-English speakers spelled names as they sounded, leading to a multitude of spelling variations.

There can also be found Jewish (Ashkenazic) variants of the surname, where it is often an Americanized form of a similar sounding surname or an adoption of the non-Jewish surname.

Regional dialects and accents could have also influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname, making it differ slightly from one place to another.

Famous people with the name Hopkins

• Anthony Hopkins: Anthony Hopkins is an Academy Award-winning Welsh actor, who rose to prominence in the film The Silence of the Lambs and for his starring role in the hugely successful HBO series, Game of Thrones.
• John H. Hopkins: John H. Hopkins was an American composer, lyricist and librettist of 19th-century musical theatre, remembered for dozens of successful Broadway musicals from 1866–1900.
• Ann Hopkins: Ann Hopkins is a trailblazing accountant who paved the way for female equality in the workplace. Her 1984 case against Price Waterhouse changed the way employers view gender bias in the workplace and set a legal precedent for sexual discrimination cases.
• Vince Hopkins: Vince Hopkins is a retired American professional baseball player who played for six seasons in the major leagues, mainly for the Chicago White Sox
• Hopkins Brothers: The Hopkins Brothers, also known as the Hopkins Family, are a group of four brothers who make up one of the most successful singing groups of all time. Brothers Barry, Donny, John, and Mark have sold millions of albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
• Tom Hopkins: Tom Hopkins is a motivational speaker, best-selling author and sales training expert. He's been a top sales rep for over 40 years and is the bestselling author of "How To Master The Art Of Selling," which is one of the most popular sales training programs in the world.
• John C. Hopkins: John C. Hopkins was a well-known American lawyer, statesman, theologian and journalist. He was born in Massachusetts and is remembered as an opponent of slavery, a friend of Thomas Jefferson, and an opponent of the temperance movement.
• John Henry Hopkins Jr.: John Henry Hopkins Jr. was a 19th-century clergyman, theologian, poet, hymnwriter, playwright, artist, and music educator. He wrote more than 60 hymns and songs, and is best known for the Christmas carol, We Three Kings.
• Eric Hopkins: Eric Hopkins is a British artist and sculptor known for his bronze figures, still lives, and portrait busts of people from the world of the arts.
• Tom Hopkins: Tom Hopkins is a British writer, illustrator, and humorist best known for his comic strip series, The Bachelor Pad. He has also written and illustrated several books, including The Illustrator's Bible and How To Draw People, as well as multiple magazine articles.

Other surnames

HopkinsonHopkirk