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

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

. 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 (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 (1806–1873), English naturalist, biologist, and supporter of Charles Darwin * Anthony Hancock (publisher) (1947–2012), British publisher of right-wing material *

Frank Hancock Francis Escott "Frank" Hancock (7 February 1859 – 29 October 1943) was an English-born rugby union centre who played club rugby for Somerset and Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. Hancock is best known as being the sport's first fourth ...

(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 (born 1950), British non-fiction author and journalist *

Jake Hancock John Michael Hancock (1928–2004), known professionally as Jake, was a geologist with particular interests in chalk and the Cretaceous Period. Biography Hancock was born on 10 August 1928 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, educated at Dauntsey's School ...

(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) Ralph Escott Hancock (20 December 1887 – 29 October 1914) played first-class cricket for Somerset in nine matches between 1907 and 1914. He was born at Llandaff in Glamorgan and died in the First World War at Festubert, La Bassee, France. ...

(1887–1914), English cricketer *

Ralph Hancock (landscape gardener) Ralph Hancock (2 July 1893 – 30 August 1950) was a Welsh landscape gardener, architect and author. Hancock built gardens in the United Kingdom in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and in the United States in the 1930s. He is known for the roof gar ...

(1893–1950), Welsh garden designer * Robert Hancock (engraver) (1730–1817), British engraver and draughtsman *

Sam Hancock Sam Hancock (born 9 January 1980 in Surrey) is a British classic and historic car consultant, writer, presenter and racing driver. Racing record American Open-Wheel racing results ( key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in ''ital ...

(born 1980), British race car driver *

Sheila Hancock Dame Sheila Cameron Hancock (born 22 February 1933) is an English actress, singer, and author. Hancock trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before starting her career in repertory theatre. Hancock went on to perform in plays and musica ...

(born 1933), British actress and comedian *

Stephen Hancock Philip Stephen Hancock (24 November 1925 – 1 November 2015) was a British television and stage actor, musical director and pianist. He was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham and attended the Chorister School, Durham and the Darlingt ...

(1925–2015), British actor * Thomas Hancock (inventor) (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 Tysoe Saul Hancock (December 1723 – 5 November 1775) was an English surgeon who served the English East India Company in the Madras Presidency. His daughter Eliza (later Eliza de Feuillide, still later Eliza Austen) was referred to as the "exot ...

(1723–1775), English East India Company surgeon *

William Hancock (ophthalmologist) William Ilbert Hancock F.R.C.S. (10 April 1873 – 26 January 1910) was an English ophthalmologist who worked as an assistant surgeon at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital. He was also a sportsman who represented England in tennis. Early l ...

(1873–1910), English ophthalmologist and sportsman *

William John Hancock William John Hancock D.Sc. (Hon), MIEE, MICE, LRCP (2 May 1864 – 26 August 1931) was an Australian of Irish descent, an electrical engineer, telephone pioneer and pioneer in X-rays in the colony of Western Australia. He was honorary radiologist ...

(1864–1931), telephone and X-ray pioneer in Western Australia

People from the United States

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), 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 (1839–1926), nurse during the American Civil War * George Allan Hancock (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 addit ...

(born 1970), former motorcycle speedway rider *

H. Irving Hancock Harrie Irving Hancock (January 16, 1868 – March 12, 1922) was an American chemist and writer, mainly remembered as an author of children's literature and juveniles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and as having written a fictional de ...

(Harrie Irving Hancock) (1868–1922), writer, mainly for children * Hank Hancock (born 1936), American politician *

Harris Hancock Harris Hancock (May 14, 1867 – March 19, 1944) was a mathematics professor at the University of Cincinnati who worked on algebraic number theory and related areas. He was the brother of the horse breeder Arthur B. Hancock. Biography Harris H ...

(1867–1944), American mathematician * Henry Hancock (1822–1883), land owner in Southern California, owner of Rancho La Brea *

Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer. Hancock started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. He shortly thereafter joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he help ...

(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 the ...

(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 Levi Ward Hancock (April 7, 1803 – June 10, 1882) was an early convert to Mormonism and was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for nearly fifty years. He was also one of the witnesses of the Book of Command ...

(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 Thomas L. Hancock (February 3, 1948 – January 31, 2016) was an American politician who was Iowa State Senator from the 16th District. A Democrat, he served in the Iowa Senate from 2005. He retired from the United States Postal Service after 31 ...

(1948–2016), U.S. politician from Iowa *

Tommy Hancock Thomas O. Hancock (March 25, 1929 – January 1, 2020) was an American musician widely regarded as the godfather of West Texas music. Hancock was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, and his grandmother had him classically trained in violin. At age ...

(1929–2020), musician *

Trenton Doyle Hancock Trenton Doyle Hancock (born 1974) is an American artist working with Printmaking, 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 ...

(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 (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. S ...

, character in the '' One Piece'' 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 ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera, which has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons an ...

'' * Matt Hancock, a former character from Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' *John Hancock, main character in ''Hancock'' (film) *John Hancock, character in '' Fallout 4''

References