Hobbs
A surname that usually began as a nickname form of Robert, with Hob as a medieval short form of that given name.
The #717 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 6,363 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hobbs is generally understood as a surname from the medieval pet form Hob, a familiar short form of Robert. The final -s usually marks either a patronymic sense, meaning “son of Hob,” or a genitive-like possessive that became fixed as a surname. In this tradition, Hob is one of several medieval nicknames built from Robert, alongside forms like Dob.
History
English surname books from the 19th century regularly group Hobbs with a large family of surnames derived from Robert, including Hobson and Hobkins. The name is well established in England and later spread through English-speaking countries, including the United States. Because Hob was a common medieval nickname, Hobbs arose independently in more than one family line.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Bardsley notes that Hob was one of the old nickname forms that helped generate a surprisingly large cluster of surnames from Robert.
From the historical record
“B in nicks becomes Ii and d. This is of historic interest (i) Hence nicks. Hob and Dob, for Robert ; whence Hobbs, Dobbs, &c. (2) Hence nicks, Hodge and Dodge, for Roger ; whence Hodgson, Dodgson, &c. {5) Hence Hick ' and Dick for Richard (the first in the surname period seemingly”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances