Hull
An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived in a town or village called Hull.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 49,974 Americans carry the last name Hull. That puts it at #807 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 14.58 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 6,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hull 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
50K
1 in 6,859
Census rank
#807
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
14.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
43K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 43,018 bearers of the surname Hull in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 14.58 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 807th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hull, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (8.6%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hull
The surname Hull is of English origin and is believed to have emerged during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "hull," which referred to a hill or a rounded ridge. This suggests that the name Hull was likely a topographic surname, given to individuals who lived near or on a hill or a ridge.
The name Hull is recorded in various historical documents, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions several individuals with the surname Hull or similar spellings, such as Hulla or Hulle. This indicates that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hull is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mentions a man named William de Hull. This suggests that the surname had already become hereditary by the 12th century.
Many individuals with the surname Hull have been associated with various locations throughout history. For example, the city of Hull in East Yorkshire, England, is believed to have derived its name from the Old English word "hull," meaning a hill or a ridge. This connection between the surname and the place name reinforces the topographic origins of the surname.
Notable individuals with the surname Hull throughout history include:
1. Robert Hull (c. 1499 - c. 1539), an English mathematician and writer who authored several works on navigation and astronomy.
2. Thomas Hull (1628 - 1683), one of the founders of the town of Windsor, Connecticut, in the United States.
3. Isaac Hull (1773 - 1843), an American naval officer who commanded the USS Constitution during the War of 1812.
4. Edith Hull (1880 - 1947), a British author and translator known for her works on spiritualism and theosophy.
5. Cordell Hull (1871 - 1955), an American politician who served as the United States Secretary of State from 1933 to 1944 and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945.
While the surname Hull has been associated with various locations and individuals throughout history, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "hull," reflecting the topographic nature of many early English surnames.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hull
Among Census respondents with the surname Hull, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (8.6%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Hull 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 Hull surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.5%
- Black or African American8.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hull 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 | #807 | #807 | 0.0% |
| Count | 43,018 | 43,018 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 14.58 | 14.58 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hull bearers went from 43,018 to 43,018 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #807 to #807.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hull
FAQ
Hull surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hull?
The surname Hull holds position #807 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 49,974 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 14.58 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hull surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hull, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (8.6%) and Hispanic (2.6%). 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.