1889, Western Amer.Eng., of unknown origin, perhaps related to early 19c. Eng. dial.
hawbuck "lout, clumsy fellow, country bumpkin." Or from
ho, boy, a workers' call on late 19c. western U.S. railroads. Hence facetious formation
hobohemia "community or life of hobos," 1923 (see
bohemian).