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

Hoots, 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 Hoots surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hoots in America

Hoots is the 15303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hoots surname appeared 1,918 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 Hoots.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hoots 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 Hoots

The surname HOOTS is believed to have originated in Scotland, likely during the 16th or 17th century. It is thought to be an anglicized version of the Scottish Gaelic word "hut," which means a small, temporary dwelling or shelter. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who lived in a simple hut or cottage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HOOTS can be found in the Parish Records of Fife, Scotland, where a John Hoots was mentioned in an entry dated 1642. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time, although its origins may predate this record.

In the 18th century, the name HOOTS appeared in various Scottish records, including the Old Parochial Registers of Aberdeenshire, where a William Hoots was mentioned in 1722. Another notable early bearer of the name was James Hoots, who was born in Edinburgh in 1732 and served as a merchant and city councilor.

As the name spread beyond Scotland, it also developed variations in spelling, such as Hootes, Hootts, and Huts. These variations likely arose from local pronunciation differences and the influence of other languages.

One notable historical figure with the surname HOOTS was Samuel Hoots, an American soldier who served in the Revolutionary War. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1760 and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Monmouth in 1778.

Another significant bearer of the name was John Hoots, a British explorer and cartographer who lived in the 19th century. He is known for his detailed maps of the Scottish Highlands, which were widely used by travelers and adventurers of the time.

In the literary world, the name HOOTS was borne by Margaret Hoots, an American poet and author who lived from 1871 to 1938. Her works often explored themes of nature and rural life, reflecting her upbringing in the Appalachian region.

While the surname HOOTS may not be as common today as some other names, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and multiple countries. Its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language and its association with simple dwellings provide a glimpse into the lives of those who first bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hoots

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

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

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

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