Hitchcock
An English occupational surname referring to a person who raised or trained hawks or falcons for hunting.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 15,801 Americans carry the last name Hitchcock. That puts it at #2,646 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.61 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 21,692 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hitchcock surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
16K
1 in 21,692
Census rank
#2,646
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
14K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 13,608 bearers of the surname Hitchcock in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.61 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2646th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hitchcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.3%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hitchcock
The surname Hitchcock has its origins in England, where it emerged in the medieval era, believed to have arisen sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Old English words "hicce," meaning a hitch or catch, and "cocc," meaning a hill or mound, indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a ridge or hillock.
Early records of the name can be found in various historical documents, including the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 under the rule of William the Conqueror. The name appears in several variations, such as Hichecoc and Hichcok, reflecting the fluidity of spelling during that period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Walter Hitchcock, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. Another early reference is John Hichcok, documented in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332.
The surname Hitchcock has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Robert Hitchcock (1572-1636) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Coventry. George Hitchcock (1850-1913) was an American writer and publisher known for founding the literary magazine "The Periodical."
Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980), perhaps the most famous bearer of the name, was a renowned English film director and producer, widely considered one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. His iconic works, such as "Psycho," "Vertigo," and "Rear Window," have left an indelible mark on the art of filmmaking.
Another notable figure was Edward Hitchcock (1793-1864), an American geologist and educator who served as the president of Amherst College and made significant contributions to the study of geology and paleontology in the Connecticut River Valley.
Ethan Allen Hitchcock (1798-1870) was a distinguished American military officer who served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War, rising to the rank of major general in the Union Army.
The surname Hitchcock has a rich history rooted in the English landscape and has been carried by individuals who have made their mark across various fields, from politics and literature to science and the arts, further enriching the legacy of this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hitchcock
Among Census respondents with the surname Hitchcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.3%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Hitchcock bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hitchcock surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.5%
- Black or African American4.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hitchcock surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,646 | #2,646 | 0.0% |
| Count | 13,608 | 13,608 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 4.61 | 4.61 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hitchcock bearers went from 13,608 to 13,608 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,646 to #2,646.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hitchcock
FAQ
Hitchcock surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hitchcock?
The surname Hitchcock holds position #2,646 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 15,801 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.61 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hitchcock surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hitchcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.5%. The next largest groups are Black (4.3%) and Hispanic (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.