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

Hoo, 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 Hoo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hoo in America

Hoo is the 28552nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hoo surname appeared 835 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Hoo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hoo 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 Hoo

The surname "HOO" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hoh," which means "heel" or "promontory." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a promontory or heel-shaped piece of land.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "HOO" can be found in historical documents dating back to the 13th century. One notable example is the mention of a "William de Hoo" in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1292. This record suggests that the name was already well-established in the county of Essex by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various spellings, such as "Hoo," "Hou," and "Houe," reflecting the varied pronunciations and spellings of the time. The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327 list a "John atte Hoo," while the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1379 mention a "Thomas de Howe."

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not explicitly mention the surname "HOO," but it does include several place names that may have contributed to the development of the surname. For example, the village of "Hoo St. Werburgh" in Kent is recorded as "Hou."

One notable figure with the surname "HOO" was Thomas Hoo (c. 1350-1427), a English soldier and diplomat who served under King Henry IV and King Henry V. He was appointed Lord Chancellor of England in 1415 and played a significant role in the negotiations leading up to the Treaty of Troyes in 1420.

Another historically significant individual with this surname was Sir William Hoo (c. 1375-1456), who served as a Member of Parliament for Sussex and was Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in 1436. He was also a prominent figure in the conflict between the Houses of Lancaster and York during the Wars of the Roses.

In the 16th century, the surname "HOO" appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1523, which list a "Thomas Hoo." During this period, the name was also associated with several place names, such as "Hoo St. Mary" and "Hoo All Saints" in Kent.

Another notable figure with this surname was William Hoo (c. 1500-1567), a English clergyman who served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral from 1556 until his death. He was a vocal supporter of the Reformation and played a role in the development of the Church of England under Queen Elizabeth I.

By the 17th century, the surname "HOO" had spread throughout England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in various counties, including Essex, Kent, and Suffolk. One example is John Hoo (c. 1620-1687), a English landowner and Member of Parliament for Maldon in Essex.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hoo

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

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

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

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