Hopkins Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Hopkins Family History

Hopkins Family History

The Hopkins ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Hopkins include Hopkin, Hopkinson, Hobkin, Hobkins and Hobkinson. This is a Mediaeval name and diminutive of the name Hobb. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Nicholas Hobekyn, Cambridge, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England, in the year 1273 and a Rogerus Hobson, who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1379. In Scotland a John Habkine of Stewartounkirk was pursued for debt in the year 1675, and a Matthew Hopkin was recorded as a Miller. In Ireland the name is often of immigrant origin, especially in Ulster Province. The name MacOibicin is a Gaelic-Norman name which was anglicized as Hopkins, Hobbikin and Habbagan, this latter name being recorded in the 1659 census as a principal Irish name in County Longford. The Hopkins family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Hopkins descendants.