A surname of English origin, or the plural of hodge, meaning sons of Roger or multiple farm laborers.
From 'Hodge,' a medieval nickname for Roger, from Germanic Hrodger (fame + spear). 'Hodges' means 'son of Hodge' or multiple hodges. In Middle English, 'hodge' also meant a rustic farm laborer, creating a double meaning in the surname.
The surname Hodges reveals how medieval nicknames became family names—'Hodge' was to 'Roger' what 'Bob' is to 'Robert' today. Ironically, while Roger meant 'famous spear,' its nickname Hodge became associated with simple farm workers, showing how aristocratic names could become common through linguistic evolution.
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