SURNAME ORIGINS

HOPKINS:

Recorded as Hopkin, Hopkins, Hopkinson, and since the 17th century much associated with Wales,  this is an English patronymic derivative of the original pre 5th century Germanic warrior name  Hrod-berht, translating as ‘renowned-fame’. ‘Borrowed’ by the French around the time of the  Emperor Charlemagne in the 8th century, its spelling was slightly changed to Robert and became  equally popular. In that spelling that it was introduced into England, Scotland and ultimately  Wales, after the famous Norman Conquest of 1066. Over the next four hundred years Robert, perhaps  as a result of its interesting meaning was so popular that it developed a wide range of surname  variations, many not obviously connected with Robert - including this one. These variants now  recorded as surnames in the own right include such short forms as Dob(b), Hob(b), Hop, Nob(b) and  the most direct Rob, Robb, Robin, Robbins, and Robinson. Not surprisingly with such a pedigree,  Hopkins is one of the earliest recorded surnames with examples in English records such as Nicholas  Hobekyn of the county of Cambridge in the Hundred Rolls of England in 1273, Rychard Hobbekynessone  in the Putname rolls of Cheshire in 1354, and Walter Hopkin of Warton, in the wills record of  Lancaster in 1563. Surnames were much later in Wales than the rest of the British Isles, and when  first recorded and given due allowance for both a change of language as well as dialect and  (indifferent) spelling, it was as ab Popkyn, or the son of Hopkin. An early Welsh example was  Johannis ab Popkyn in the rolls of the county of Monmouth in 1610. Over the centuries there were  several coats of arms granted to name holders. The first was probably Hopkinson of Alford,  Lincolnshire, in the time of Queen Elizabeth 1st (1558 – 1603) although the most unusual - is to  Hopkins of Maryland, in the American colony of that name, in the year 1764. This was about ten  years before official US independence. The basic blazon has a black shield, a gold chevron in  chief between two pistols, and a silver medal inscribed with the head of Louis XV, the king of  France. This suggests the family were much involved in the defeat of the French during the Seven  Year Wars of around that time.

BENNETT:

This interesting surname derives from the medieval given name "Benedict", from the  Latin "Benedictus" meaning blessed. This personal name owed its popularity in the Middle Ages  chiefly to St. Benedict (circa 480 - 550), who founded the Benedictine order of monks at Monte  Cassino, and wrote a monastic rule that formed a model for all subsequent rules. There were many  versions of the name throughout Europe, and in England in the 12th Century the Latin form of the  name can be found alongside versions derived from the Old French forms "Beneit" and "Benoit",  which were popular among the Normans. The surname dates back to the early 13th Century (see  below). London Church Records list the christening of Dennys Bennett on June 15th 1567 at St. Mary  at Hill, and the christening of Thomas Bennit on December 1st 1583 at St. John's, Hackney. One  John Bennett was an early emigrant to the New World; he is recorded as sailing in the "Plaine  Joan" from London in May 1635, bound for Virginia. A Coat of Arms granted to a Bennett family is  silver, a chevron between three red lions' heads erased. The first recorded spelling of the family  name is shown to be that of William Benet, which was dated 1208, in the "Charter Rolls of Durham",  during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216.  ..........................................

ANCESTORS WHO EMIGRATED:

HENRY HERBERT HOPKINS (1854-1928) To New Plymouth, New Zealand from Houghton, Sussex, England,  1875. Ship: Berar. Occupation: Dairy Farmer.

JAMES MCGREGOR (1811-1843) To New Zealand from Perthshire, Scotland, 1841. Ship: Will Watch.  Occupation: Professional Laborer. Accompanied by wife and children.

WILLIAM MCGREGOR (1827-1905) To Nelson, New Zealand from Inverness, Scotland, 1842. Ship: Lloyds.  Occupation: Sawyer

CATHERINE VERCOE(1827-1890) To New Plymouth, New Zealand from St Mawes, Cornwall, 1842. Ship:  Tomandra. Occupation: Seamstress. Travelled with parents and siblings. ..........................................

THOSE WHO DIED IN WORLD WARS:

HENRY THOMAS LEONARD BENNETT (1917-25/4/1944) Flight Serjeant, Royal New Zealand Airforce, England DAVID ALLGOOD (1890 - 3/10/1916), Private, Cambridgeshire Regiment, Thiepval, France EARNEST WILLIAM ARTHUR,(1894 - 8/4/1918),Lance Serjeant, Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F. Somme France. JACK KNUCKEY (1890-30/8/1918), Rifleman, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, France. WILLIAM KEVIN TELFAR (30/4/1923-1/8/1944), Gunner, New Zealand Artillery, Italy.