Hancock is an English surname. It is derived from a given name, a variant of ''

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

'' (Johan) combined with the hypocoristic suffix ''-cok'' which came into fashion in the 13th century, from ''cok'' "cock", applied to "a young lad who strutted proudly like a cock". As a given name, ''Hanecok'' is recorded in the 13th century in the

Hundred Rolls The Hundred Rolls are a census of England and parts of what is now Wales taken in the late thirteenth century. Often considered an attempt to produce a second Domesday Book, they are named after the hundreds by which most returns were recorded. Th ...

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

. The Dictionary of American Family Names mentions an alternative Dutch etymology, from ''hanecoc'' " periwinkle".Dictionary of American Family Names (2013), s.v. "Hancock" An Irish variation is Handcock, as borne by

William Handcock, 1st Viscount Castlemaine William Handcock, 1st Viscount Castlemaine, PC (Ire) (28 August 1761 – 7 January 1839) was an Irish MP and supporter of Union with Great Britain. Life He was born in Dublin, Ireland to Reverend Richard Handcock and Sarah Toler. In 1783, Han ...

People from Australia

* H. R. Hancock "Captain" Hancock (1836–1919) mine superintendent of Moonta, South Australia *

Keith Hancock (historian) Sir William Keith Hancock, (26 June 189813 August 1988) was a prominent Australian historian. Early life and education He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of Archdeacon William Hancock. At the age of nine, he won the Royal Humane ...

(1898–1988), historian *

Lang Hancock Langley Frederick George "Lang" Hancock (10 June 1909 27 March 1992) was an Australian iron ore magnate from Western Australia who maintained a high profile in the spheres of business and politics. Famous initially for discovering the world's ...

(1909–1992), iron ore magnate *

Michael Hancock (rugby league) Michael John "Mick" Hancock (born 21 October 1969) is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative , he played in the Brisbane ...

(born 1969), rugby league footballer * Robert Hancock (footballer) (1922–1973), Australian rules footballer

People from Canada

* Robert E. W. Hancock (born 1949), Microbiologist

People from the United Kingdom

Albany Hancock Albany Hancock (24 December 1806 – 1873), English naturalist, biologist and supporter of Charles Darwin, was born on Christmas Eve in Newcastle upon Tyne. He is best known for his works on marine animals and coal-measure fossils. Albany Hanco ...

(1806–1873), English naturalist, biologist, and supporter of Charles Darwin *

Anthony Hancock (publisher) Anthony Hancock (5 May 1947 – 11 June 2012) was a publisher who created literature for British far right groups and a member of such organisations in the United Kingdom. Biography Based in Brighton, where Hancock owned a hotel called the ...

(1947–2012), British publisher of right-wing material * Frank Hancock (1859–1943), Wales international rugby captain *

Froude Hancock Philip Froude Hancock universally known as Froude Hancock (29 August 1865 – 16 October 1933) was an English rugby union forward who played international rugby for the British Isles XV on two tours, the 1891 and 1896 tour of South Africa ...

(1865–1933), English international rugby union player *

Graham Hancock Graham Bruce Hancock (born 2 August 1950) is a British writer who promotes pseudoscientific theories involving ancient civilizations and lost lands. Hancock speculates that an advanced ice age civilization was destroyed in a cataclysm, but t ...

(born 1950), British non-fiction author and journalist * Jake Hancock (1928–2004), British geologist specialising in the Cretaceous period * Matthew (Matt) Hancock (born 1978), British Conservative Party politician *

Nick Hancock Nicholas John Hancock (born 25 October 1962) is an English actor and television presenter. He hosted the sports quiz ''They Think It's All Over'' for 10 years. He also formerly presented ''Room 101'' (1994–1999) on TV, as well as its earlier ...

(born 1962), British actor and television presenter * Sir

Patrick Hancock Sir Patrick Francis Hancock (25 June 1914 – 1 February 1980) was a British diplomat who was ambassador to Israel, Norway and Italy. Career Patrick Francis Hancock was educated at Winchester College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He joined th ...

(1914–1980), British diplomat, ambassador to Israel, Norway, and Italy * Ralph Hancock (cricketer) (1887–1914), English cricketer * Ralph Hancock (landscape gardener) (1893–1950), Welsh garden designer *

Robert Hancock (engraver) Robert Hancock (1730–1817) was an English engraver. Life Hancock was born in Staffordshire, studied under Simon François Ravenet, and was at first engaged as an engraver at the Battersea Enamel Works under Stephen Theodore Janssen. In 1756 o ...

(1730–1817), British engraver and draughtsman * Sam Hancock (born 1980), British race car driver * Sheila Hancock (born 1933), British actress and comedian * Stephen Hancock (1925–2015), British actor *

Thomas Hancock (inventor) Thomas Hancock (8 May 1786 – 26 March 1865), elder brother of inventor Walter Hancock, was an English self-taught manufacturing engineer who founded the British rubber industry. He invented the masticator, a machine that shredded rubber scra ...

(1786–1865), British inventor *

Tony Hancock Anthony John Hancock (12 May 1924 – 25 June 1968) was an English comedian and actor. High-profile during the 1950s and early 1960s, he had a major success with his BBC series ''Hancock's Half Hour'', first broadcast on radio from 1954, ...

(1924–1968), British comedian on ''Hancock's Half Hour'' radio and television series * Tysoe Saul Hancock (1723–1775), English East India Company surgeon * William Hancock (ophthalmologist) (1873–1910), English ophthalmologist and sportsman * William John Hancock (1864–1931), telephone and X-ray pioneer in Western Australia

People from the United States

* Allan Hancock (1875–1965), heir to Rancho La Brea, developer of Hancock Park, Los Angeles *

Clarence E. Hancock Clarence Eugene Hancock (February 13, 1885 – January 3, 1948) was an American attorney and politician from New York. He was most notable for his service as a U.S. Representative from 1927 to 1947. A native of Syracuse, New York, Hancock grad ...

(1885–1948), politician of New York, namesake of the Syracuse Hancock International Airport *

Cornelia Hancock Cornelia Hancock (February 8, 1840 – December 31, 1927) was a celebrated volunteer nurse, serving the injured and infirmed of the Union Army during the American Civil War. Hancock's service lasted from July 6, 1863 to May 23, 1865. Early life H ...

(1839–1926), nurse during the American Civil War *

George Allan Hancock George Allan Hancock (July 26, 1875 – May 31, 1965) was the owner of the Rancho La Brea Oil Company. He inherited Rancho La Brea, including the La Brea Tar Pits which he donated to Los Angeles County. He also developed Hancock Park, Los Angeles ...

(1875–1965) Californian oil magnate *

Greg Hancock Gregory Alan Hancock (born June 3, 1970 in Whittier, California) is an American former professional motorcycle speedway rider. As of 2023, he was one of only six riders to have won the individual World Championship four or more times. In addi ...

(born 1970), former motorcycle speedway rider * H. Irving Hancock (Harrie Irving Hancock) (1868–1922), writer, mainly for children * Hank Hancock (born 1936), American politician * Harris Hancock (1867–1944), American mathematician *

Henry Hancock Henry Hancock (April 11, 1822January 9, 1883) was a Harvard trained lawyer and a land surveyor working in California in the 1850s. He was the owner of Rancho La Brea, which included the La Brea Tar Pits. Early life Henry Hancock was born in Ba ...

(1822–1883), land owner in Southern California, owner of Rancho La Brea * Herbie Hancock (born 1940), jazz musician * James Hughes Hancock (born 1931–2020), Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama *

John Hancock John Hancock ( – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of t ...

(1737–1793), American Revolutionary; signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence *

Josh Hancock Joshua Morgan Hancock (April 11, 1978 – April 29, 2007) was a professional baseball pitcher, who played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals. He was killed in an au ...

(1978–2007), pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals * Keith Hancock (musician) (born 1980), music educator, Grammy award winner * Levi W. Hancock (1803–1882), pioneer of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) *

(born 1990), financial adviser * Mary Louise Hancock (1920–2017), New Hampshire politician and activist *

Mel Hancock Melton D. "Mel" Hancock (September 14, 1929 – November 6, 2011) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th congressional district. Early life Hancock was born in Cape Fair, Stone County, Missouri and ...

(1929–2011), U.S. Congressman from Missouri, best known for Missouri's Hancock Amendment * Tom Hancock (1948–2016), U.S. politician from Iowa * Tommy Hancock (1929–2020), musician *

Trenton Doyle Hancock Trenton Doyle Hancock (born 1974) is an American artist working with prints, drawings, and collaged-felt paintings. Through his work, Hancock mainly aims to tell the story of the Mounds, mystical creatures that are part of the artist's world. ...

(born 1974), American artist *

Vincent Hancock Vincent Charles Hancock (born March 19, 1989, in Port Charlotte, Florida) is an American shooter and Olympian who won the gold medal in the men's skeet at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing (with a then Olympic record), 2012 Summer Olympics in ...

(born 1989), Olympic shooter *

Winfield Scott Hancock Winfield Scott Hancock (February 14, 1824 – February 9, 1886) was a United States Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service ...

(1824–1886), Union general during the American Civil War

Fiction

*Alexandra Hancock, or Aunt Alexandra, character in ''

To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a novel by the American author Harper Lee. It was published in 1960 and was instantly successful. In the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' has become ...

'' *

Boa Hancock also known as is a fictional character in the ''One Piece'' franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. She is the captain of the Kuja Pirates and was the only female member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea prior to the organization's disbandment. She ...

, character in the ''

One Piece ''One Piece'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine '' Weekly Shōnen Jump'' since July 1997, with its individual cha ...

'' manga and anime series. In this instance, Hancock is instead a given name, not a surname. * Emily Hancock, a former character from Australian soap opera '' Neighbours'' *

Matt Hancock Matthew John David Hancock (born 2 October 1978) is a British politician who served as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General from 2015 to 2016, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from January to July 201 ...

, a former character from Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' *John Hancock, main character in ''Hancock'' (film) *John Hancock, character in ''

Fallout 4 ''Fallout 4'' is a 2015 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fourth main game in the ''Fallout'' series and was released worldwide on November 10, 2015, for PlayStation 4, ...

References