Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Hopkins” come from?

Hopkins derives from English Hob, a nickname for Robert, which comes from Old English cynn meaning "kin," ultimately from Proto-Germanic kunją and Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- meaning "to beget."

Ancestry of “Hopkins”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHob—
2Middle EnglishHob—
3EnglishrobinAny of various passerine birds of the families...
4Middle EnglishRobin—
5Old FrenchRobert—
6Frankishberhtbright
7Proto-Germanicberhtazbright, shining
8Proto-Germanichrabnazraven
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂-—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
11Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
12Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “Hopkins”

  • Hopkinsian
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →