Find out how popular the first name Hoover has been for the last 41 years (from 1982 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Hoover by gender

Based on the last 41 years of data, Hoover is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Hoover.

The history of the first name Hoover

The name Hoover is an English surname that originated as a variant of the medieval name Hoverus. The name Hoverus itself is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hof," meaning "house," or from the Middle English word "hoven," meaning "to hover."

Historically, the name Hoover was first recorded in the late 12th century, with references to individuals bearing this surname in various medieval records and texts from England. One of the earliest recorded instances was in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1185, which mentioned a person named Willielmus Hovere.

While the name Hoover is not known to have appeared in ancient religious scriptures or texts, it has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, who was born in 1874 and served as president from 1929 to 1933. Another notable Hoover was J. Edgar Hoover, the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who held this position from 1924 to 1972.

Other historical figures with the name Hoover include Herbert C. Hoover, an American engineer and businessman who co-founded the Hoover Company, a major manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, in 1908. Hoover Dam, a massive concrete dam on the Colorado River, was named after President Herbert Hoover in recognition of his role in its construction during his presidency.

In the field of sports, Lou Hoover was an American professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1944 to 1957. He was born in 1925 and is remembered for his time with the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox.

Despite its English origins, the name Hoover has been adopted and used in various cultures and languages around the world, with some variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval English period, where it emerged as a surname reflecting occupations or locations associated with households or dwellings.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Hoover was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hoover, please contact us.

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