# Hobson (surname)

Hobson is an English patronymic surname. Originating in Scandinavian Denmark, the surname found its way to England and Iceland during the Anglo-Saxon (450–1066) and Viking (793–1066) eras, evolving from Son of Hrod (Hróður) to Hobson. The name reaches its highest concentrations in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

## People

* Allan Hobson (1933–2021), American psychologist and professor of psychiatry
* Barry Hobson (1925–2017), Northern Irish cricketer and educator
* Bulmer Hobson (1883–1969), Northern Irish writer and Irish nationalist
* Butch Hobson (born 1951), American baseball manager and former player
* Charles Hobson, Baron Hobson, British politician
* Charles Hobson (trade unionist) (1845–1923), British trade unionist
* Darington Hobson (born 1987), American basketball player
* Dave Hobson (born 1936), American politician and lawyer
* David Hobson (tenor) (born 1969), Australian opera singer
* Dorothy Hobson (born 1946), Jamaican and West Indies cricketer
* E. W. Hobson (1856–1933), English mathematician
* Edward H. Hobson (1825–1901), American merchant, banker, politician, tax collector, railroad executive and Civil War brigadier general
* Edward Hobson (botanist) (1782–1830), English weaver and botanist
* Frank Hobson (1894–1951), British flying ace
* Frederick Hobson (1873–1917), Canadian soldier posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross
* Frederick Taylor Hobson (1840–1909), British Army major-general
* Gary Hobson (born 1972), English former footballer
* George Andrew Hobson (1854–1917), British civil engineer and bridge builder
* George Hobson (footballer) (1903–1993), English footballer
* George Hobson (wrestler), New Zealand wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 1950 British Empire Games
* Harold Hobson (1904–1992), English drama critic and author
* Henry Hobson (1891–1983), American Episcopal bishop
* Howard Hobson (1903–1991), American college basketball and baseball coach and basketball player
* Jason Hobson (born 1983), English rugby union player
* J. A. Hobson (1858–1940), English economist and liberal
* Julius Hobson (1922–1977), American politician
* Laura Z. Hobson (1900–1986), American novelist
* M. K. Hobson (born 1969), American speculative fiction/fantasy writer
* Mark Hobson (spree killer) (born 1969), English murderer
* Mary Hobson (curler) (fl. 1987–1988), American curler
* Mellody Hobson (born 1969), American businesswoman, chairwoman of Starbucks and former chairwoman of DreamWorks Animation
* Michael Z. Hobson (1936–2020), American publisher and executive vice president of Marvel Comics
* Mike Hobson (fl. 1995–present), British television producer
* Peggie Muriel Hobson (d. 1988), Scottish geographer
* Peter Hobson, English psychology professor
* Richmond P. Hobson (1870–1937) U.S. Navy admiral, Medal of Honor recipient, and congressman from Alabama
* Richmond P. Hobson Jr. (1907–1966), American-Canadian writer
* T. Frank Hobson (1900–1966), Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
* Theo Hobson (born 1972), British theologian
* Thomas Hobson (postal carrier) (c. 1554–1631), English stable manager responsible for origin of the phrase "Hobson's choice"
* Valerie Hobson (1917–1998), British actress, wife of John Profumo
* Victor Hobson (born 1980), American football player
* Wilder Hobson (1906–1964), American writer and editor
* William Hobson (1792–1842), first Governor-General of New Zealand
* William Hobson (born 1991), birth name of professional wrestler Powerhouse Hobbs

## Fictional characters

* Christopher Hobson, a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation
* Gary Hobson, leading character of the television series Early Edition
* Henry Hobson, title character of the 1915 play Hobson's Choice and various film adaptations
* Dr. Laura Hobson, a recurring character in the UK television series Inspector Lewis and Inspector Morse