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

Hocker, 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 Hocker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hocker in America

Hocker is the 9989th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hocker surname appeared 3,229 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Hocker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hocker 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 Hocker

The surname Hocker is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Hocker," which means "one who sits on a bench." This occupation-based surname likely referred to someone who worked as a cobbler or shoemaker, as these tradesmen would often sit on benches while plying their craft.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hocker can be found in the Bremisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of documents from the city of Bremen, Germany, dated around the 14th century. In these records, the name appears as "Hockere," which is believed to be an early variant spelling.

The Hocker surname also has connections to various place names throughout Germany. For example, the town of Hockenheim in the state of Baden-Württemberg is thought to be derived from the same root word, suggesting that the Hocker family may have originated from or resided in this area.

Notable individuals with the Hocker surname throughout history include Johann Hocker (1498-1571), a German theologian and Reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another prominent figure was Johann Gottfried Hocker (1667-1743), a German jurist and author who wrote extensively on legal topics.

In the 16th century, the Hocker family had established itself as a respected lineage in the city of Nuremberg, Germany. Records from this time period mention several members of the family, including Hans Hocker (1512-1585), a wealthy merchant and city councillor.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Johann Christoph Hocker (1707-1771), a German composer and organist who made significant contributions to the development of church music. His works were widely performed and appreciated during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Friedrich Hocker (1794-1857), a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Frankfurt Parliament during the revolutionary period of 1848-1849. He was a vocal advocate for liberal reforms and played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the time.

Throughout its long history, the Hocker surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of Germany, and its origins as an occupation-based name have given it a unique and enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hocker

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

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

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

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