Rodgers & Hart Biography
Rodgers is a patronymic surname deriving from the given name of "Rodger" commonly used by the Normans and meaning "son of Rodger". Variant form of Rogers. The name Rodger is of Old German origin and is likely derived from the Germanic name Hrodger meaning "famous spear", composed of the elements hruod "fame" and ger "spear". In England, the name Rodger could’ve derived from the pre-7th century Old English name Hrothgar, which means 'fame spear' ("hroð" fame or renown, "gari" spear), the first reference to which is in Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon epic poem. The name was probably first introduced into England during the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain. However, it is more likely that the name Rodger was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. In Normandy, the name "Rodger" was reinforced by the Old Norse cognate Hróðgeirr and was very popular with the Norsemen. It was they who "borrowed" it from the Gauls they conquered, as they swept through on their long march from Scandinavia to their home in Normandy. According to a 2020 study, those with the surname are more likely to have Viking ancestors. The Normans brought the name to England, where it replaced the name "Hroðgar" (Old Norse: Hróarr). The name of a legendary Danish king, living in the early 6th century mentioned in Beowulf, Widsith, and also in Norse sagas. From the Old Norse, Hroð-geirr; from the Danish, Roedeger, Rodgers; from the Flemish, Roger; from the French, Rogier; from the German, Roger; from the Latin, Rodegerus, Rodeghiero; in the Domesday Book, Roger. It was introduced to Ireland when the Anglo-Normans invaded in the 1170s and then later in the Cromwellian invasions. However, many occurrences of it in Ireland represent an Anglicisation of Mac Ruaidhrí and Mac Ruairí in the newer and current standard spelling. The surname Rodgers was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as Adam filius Rogeri in Lincolnshire; and Robert filius Rogeri in Norfolk. Kirby's Quest of Some...