Hood
An occupational surname referring to someone who made hoods or lived near a hood-shaped hill or mountain.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 64,095 Americans carry the last name Hood. That puts it at #616 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 18.70 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 5,348 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hood 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
64K
1 in 5,348
Census rank
#616
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
18.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
55K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 55,174 bearers of the surname Hood in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 18.70 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 616th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hood, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.1%. The next largest groups are Black (20.2%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hood
The surname HOOD is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "hod," meaning a hood or cowl. It likely originated as an occupational name for a maker or seller of hoods, or as a nickname for someone who frequently wore a hood.
Early records of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hod" in various counties across England. The Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176 include a reference to a "Roger Hood," suggesting the name's use in medieval times.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robin Hood, the legendary English folk hero from the late 12th century. While his existence remains debated, tales of his exploits in Sherwood Forest have made him a iconic figure in English folklore.
In the 13th century, the name is found in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a "William le Hod" in Oxfordshire. The Placita de Quo Warranto of 1293 includes a "Richard Hod" from Yorkshire.
Notable individuals with the surname HOOD throughout history include:
1. Thomas Hood (1799-1845), an English poet and author known for his works such as "The Song of the Shirt" and "The Bridge of Sighs."
2. Samuel Hood (1724-1816), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.
3. John Bell Hood (1831-1879), a Confederate general during the American Civil War, known for his role in the Atlanta Campaign and the Franklin-Nashville Campaign.
4. Raymond M. Hood (1881-1934), an American architect best known for designing the iconic Rockefeller Center in New York City.
5. Andrew Hood (1775-1858), an American politician who served as the 6th Governor of Connecticut from 1835 to 1838.
The name HOOD has also been associated with various place names, such as Hood River in Oregon, named after a British sailor, and Hood County in Texas, named after the Confederate general John Bell Hood.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hood
Among Census respondents with the surname Hood, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.1%. The next largest groups are Black (20.2%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Hood 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 Hood surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White74.1%
- Black or African American20.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races2.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hood 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #566 | #616 | -8.8% |
| Count | 53,737 | 55,174 | 2.7% |
| Per 100K | 19.92 | 18.70 | -6.1% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Hood bearers went from 53,737 to 55,174 (+2.7% change). The surname moved down 50 positions in the national ranking, going from #566 to #616.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hood
FAQ
Hood surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hood?
The surname Hood holds position #616 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 64,095 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 18.70 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hood surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hood, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.1%. The next largest groups are Black (20.2%) and Hispanic (2.2%). 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.