• Our earliest known Hoggard ancestor was John Hoggard born in abt. 1535 in Treswell, Nottingham, England.  His wife's name is unknown.  They had one  son, and three daughters.

• One meaning of the name is that pigs are called hogs and that our earlier ancestors raised hogs as their 'cash' crop.  Tthe early Hoggard's were farmers and raised animals to make their living.

• More about the Hoggard name:  In old English, the word "hog" referred to a young sheep or lamb, not to a pig or swine. The Scandinavian suffix "gard" is a shortened version of the common suffix "gaard." When written in English the double "A" was usually shortened to a single "A".  That is also frequently done in the native language with a dot placed over the "A" to distinguish it from the pronunciation of a single "A".  The suffix "gard" refers to a green field or pasture.  When the suffix "gard" was placed with the prefix "hog" the two describe an individual whose vocation was tending sheep in the field.  Some people who did this acquired the name "Shepherd."  

 
• The reason some family members changed the spelling was to avoid the incorrect pronunciation of the name.  Some people pronounced the first syllable "HOG" instead of "HOE."  It is interesting that the English family members I have met pronounce the original name very close to the "Huggard" pronunciation and spelling  that many of the descendants in Utah and the western United States now use.

• The ancestors of our branch of the family moved to Edwinstowe, Nottingham, England where they were butchers and blacksmiths.  Some of their work is still visible today at Rufford Abbey which is located near Edwinstowe.  They made the large iron gates and much of the fancy iron fence at that famous landmark.  These skills were transferred to their U.S. descendants who used them to supplement their income and in practical application as farmers.

• The first American Ancestor of our branch of the family came to America in the mid-1800's and eventually settled in Utah where he and his wife have a large decadency.

• We look forward to any other family contacts around the world.

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