Find out how popular the last name Hack is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Hack.

Hack, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Hack surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hack in America

Hack is the 5379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hack surname appeared 6,468 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Hack.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hack to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Hack

The surname "HACK" has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "haecc," which means a gate or a grating, referring to a person who lived near such a structure or worked as a gatekeeper.

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "William atte Hack." This entry suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive surname given to someone living near a gate or hatch.

In the 14th century, the name can be found in various forms, such as "de la Hack" and "atte Hak," which further reinforces the connection to gates or hatches. The variant spelling "Hack" became more common in the 15th and 16th centuries.

One notable historical figure with the surname "HACK" was Sir John Hack, a Member of Parliament for Coventry in the 16th century. He was born around 1530 and played a role in the English Reformation under Queen Elizabeth I.

Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Hack, a merchant and shipowner from Bristol, England, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was involved in the early colonization efforts in North America and helped finance expeditions to Virginia.

In the 17th century, the name can be found in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1626, which lists a William Hack. During this period, the name also appears in connection with places like Hackney in London, suggesting a possible link to a location with a similar name.

One notable figure from the 18th century was Sir Henry Hack, a British naval officer who was born in 1708 and served during the Seven Years' War. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and played a significant role in several naval battles.

In the 19th century, the name "HACK" was associated with several prominent individuals, including Maria Hack, an English author and poet who lived from 1777 to 1844. She published several works of poetry and prose and was known for her support of abolition and women's rights.

Overall, the surname "HACK" has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, where it was likely derived from a connection to gates or hatches. Throughout the centuries, the name has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields, reflecting its enduring presence in English society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hack

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Hack.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hack was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hack has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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