NameCensus.

UK surname

Hancock

Derived from a placename meaning "hill associated with a man called Hann" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 13,580 people recorded with the Hancock surname, ranking it #299 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18,073, ranked #332, down from #299 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wolstanton and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Cheshire East and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hancock is 19,232 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.1%.

1881 census count

13,580

Ranked #299

Modern count

18,073

2016, ranked #332

Peak year

1911

19,232 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hancock had 13,580 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #299 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 18,073 in 2016, ranked #332.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19,232 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hancock surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hancock surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hancock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hancock over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 8,896 #301
1861 historical 8,738 #313
1881 historical 13,580 #299
1891 historical 14,471 #291
1901 historical 17,237 #291
1911 historical 19,232 #235
1997 modern 17,637 #333
1998 modern 18,998 #319
1999 modern 19,164 #317
2000 modern 19,042 #317
2001 modern 18,613 #317
2002 modern 18,839 #320
2003 modern 18,401 #317
2004 modern 18,247 #324
2005 modern 17,871 #325
2006 modern 17,744 #326
2007 modern 17,753 #327
2008 modern 17,810 #327
2009 modern 18,138 #330
2010 modern 18,581 #328
2011 modern 18,418 #326
2012 modern 17,902 #330
2013 modern 18,369 #330
2014 modern 18,512 #329
2015 modern 18,218 #333
2016 modern 18,073 #332

Geography

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Where Hancocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wolstanton, Burslem and St Austell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Cheshire East, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Burslem Staffordshire
5 St Austell Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
2 Cheshire East 033 Cheshire East
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 004 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Stoke-on-Trent 004 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Stoke-on-Trent 001 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hancock

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hancock surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hancock

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hancock, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Hancock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hancock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hancock is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hancock is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hancock falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hancock is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hancock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hancock

The surname Hancock is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "han" meaning rock or stone, and "cocc" meaning hill or ridge. It is believed to have originated in the 11th century as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a prominent rocky hill or ridge.

The earliest known record of the name Hancock appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Hancoc" in Wiltshire. This suggests that the name was already established in parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the medieval period, the name was found primarily in the counties of Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire, where place names like Hannock, Hannock's Hill, and Hannock's Farm were recorded. Variations in spelling, such as Hancoke, Hancok, and Hancocke, were also common.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Hancock was John Hancock (1737-1793), the American revolutionary and first signer of the Declaration of Independence. His prominent signature on the document has made him an iconic figure in American history.

Another famous bearer of the name was Winfield Scott Hancock (1824-1886), a prominent Union general during the American Civil War. He was a candidate for the presidency in 1880 but lost to James A. Garfield.

In England, notable figures include Walter Hancock (1799-1852), a notable portrait painter and engraver, and Thomas Hancock (1786-1865), a renowned inventor and manufacturer of rubber products, including the first rubber-soled shoes.

John Hancock (1809-1892), an English clergyman and author, wrote several influential works on religious education and served as the chaplain to the Queen.

Charles Hancock (1867-1961) was an English cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club and made appearances for the England national team in the late 19th century.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Hancock, which has its roots in the Old English language and has been present in various parts of England for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Hancock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hancock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13,580 people were recorded with the Hancock surname. That placed it at #299 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hancock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 18,073 in 2016. That gives Hancock a modern rank of #332.

What does the Hancock surname mean?

Derived from a placename meaning "hill associated with a man called Hann" in Old English.

What does the Hancock map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hancock bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.