Hapgood

This unusual surname is of Old German origin, and derives from the personal name "Habgood", composed of the Old German "Oppo, Opo, Opi, Hopi" meaning wild, plus the obscure second element "gaud" good. The popularity of the given name is borne out by the number of surnames it has generated. Variations in the spelling of the surname include Habgood, Hapgood, Hepgood, Hobgood, and Hopegood. London Church Records list the marriage of Edward Hopgood to Elnor Heidesly on the 14th April 1612 at St. Lawrence Jewry, Milk Street and the christening of Andrew, son of Edward Hopgood, on the 8th October 1626 at St. Margaret Lothbury. Symon, son of Edward Hopegood, was christened on the 11th December 1627 also at st. Margaret Lothbury. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is gold, on an anchor between three blue fishes naiant. The Crest is a sword and quill in saltire proper. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Stephen Hopgood, which was dated 3rd October 1610, witness to the christening of his son Mathew at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, during the reign of King James 1st of England and V1 of Scotland, 1603-1625. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.