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

Hancock, 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 Hancock surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hancock in America

Hancock is the 681st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hancock surname appeared 50,558 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Hancock.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hancock 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 Hancock

The surname Hancock is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "han" meaning rock or stone, and "cocc" meaning hill or ridge. It is believed to have originated in the 11th century as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a prominent rocky hill or ridge.

The earliest known record of the name Hancock appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Hancoc" in Wiltshire. This suggests that the name was already established in parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the medieval period, the name was found primarily in the counties of Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire, where place names like Hannock, Hannock's Hill, and Hannock's Farm were recorded. Variations in spelling, such as Hancoke, Hancok, and Hancocke, were also common.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Hancock was John Hancock (1737-1793), the American revolutionary and first signer of the Declaration of Independence. His prominent signature on the document has made him an iconic figure in American history.

Another famous bearer of the name was Winfield Scott Hancock (1824-1886), a prominent Union general during the American Civil War. He was a candidate for the presidency in 1880 but lost to James A. Garfield.

In England, notable figures include Walter Hancock (1799-1852), a notable portrait painter and engraver, and Thomas Hancock (1786-1865), a renowned inventor and manufacturer of rubber products, including the first rubber-soled shoes.

John Hancock (1809-1892), an English clergyman and author, wrote several influential works on religious education and served as the chaplain to the Queen.

Charles Hancock (1867-1961) was an English cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club and made appearances for the England national team in the late 19th century.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Hancock, which has its roots in the Old English language and has been present in various parts of England for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hancock

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

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 Hancock 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 Hancock 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 Hancock was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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