HOOK
In the British Isles the surname Hook is of English origin and is recorded as a very early medieval name, possibly among the earliest known English surnames.
It can be classified as a locational, descriptive or occupational surname. As a locational name it refers to one's association with a place called Hook or Hooke, derived from the Old English word hoc meaning hook or bend. Several sites bearing this name exist across six English counties.
Descriptively the surname arose as a nickname for a person possessing a hooked nose; the same Old English root hoc was applied to the physical feature. This form of the name is exemplified by John Hook of Essex in 1327, who is believed to have been recorded primarily as a nickname.
The occupational origin, the third variant, stems from the pre‑7th century Old English term hocere, later transformed into hooker. It denoted a skilled craftman who produced hooks, initially fashioned by heating and steaming animal bone rather than by iron or steel. Early examples of this occupation include Geoffrey de la Hoke in Devonshire in 1242 and Gervase ad Hokys of Bedfordshire in 1244, both locational but also indicative of the trade.
The surname appears in a variety of medieval forms, notably Hook, Hooke, Hooker, Hookes, Hooks, Huck, Huke, Hocke and Huckes. An early reference to the name is found in the Liber Elliensis of circa 975, where the individual Osmundus Hocere is mentioned, demonstrating the antiquity of the surname before the Norman Invasion.
Bearers of the name have been granted at least twenty coats of arms. The earliest documented arms belong to Sir Richard Hook of the city of York, who served under King Edward the First (1273–1307). His heraldic description lists a blue field with a gold fess situated between three gold fleur de lis, symbolising victory over the French.
The modern usage of the word “hook,” especially as slang for a call girl or boy, is a 19th century development and bears no connection to the historical origins of the surname. Consequently, the name’s traditional meanings remain tied to geography, personal physical traits and handcrafted tools.
Typical given names associated with the Hook surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Carol
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Joanne
- Julie
- Linda
- Margaret
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Hook in...
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There are approximately 8,237 people named Hook in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,150th most common surname in Britain. Around 126 in a million people in Britain are named Hook.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Hook
- Peter Hook - Musician and author
- James Hook - Welsh rugby union player
- Stanley Richard Lupino Hook - Actor (1893 to 1942)
- Henry Hook - Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1850 to 1905)
- George Barry Lupino-Hook - Actor (1882 to 1962)
- Mike Hook - Welsh rugby union football player and coach, and rugby league football player
- Ross Hook - Bishop (1917 to 1996)
- James Hook - Composer (1746 to 1827)
- Arthur Hook - Cricketer (1877 to 1957)
- John Hook - Cricketer for Somerset
- Norman Hook - (1928 to 2011)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.