If the surname Hull is of topographical origin, it may derive from the

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

''hyll'', denoting a "dweller on or by a hill" (making it a

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

West Country The West Country (occasionally Westcountry) is a loosely defined area of South West England, usually taken to include all, some, or parts of the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, and, less commonly, Wiltshire, Gloucesters ...

and

West Midlands West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some ...

variant of

Hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct Summit (topography), summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally con ...

), or from a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

term for a rough, uneven place. It may also be of locational origin, e.g.,

Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull, usually abbreviated to Hull, is a port city and unitary authority in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies upon the River Hull at its confluence with the Humber Estuary, inland from the North Sea and south-east ...

on the

River Hull The River Hull is a navigable river in the East Riding of Yorkshire in Northern England. It rises from a series of springs to the west of Driffield, and enters the Humber Estuary at Kingston upon Hull. Following a period when the Archbishops 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 ...

, or derive from the personal name ''Hulle'', a pet form of

Hugh Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

. The name spread from the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...

throughout the

Anglosphere The Anglosphere is a group of English-speaking world, English-speaking nations that share historical and cultural ties with England, and which today maintain close political, diplomatic and military co-operation. While the nations included in d ...

. The first notable bearer of the name in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, a brother of the Rev. Joseph Hull, was George Hull (1590–1659) of

Crewkerne Crewkerne ( ) is a town and electoral ward in Somerset, England, southwest of Yeovil and east of Chard all in the South Somerset district. The civil parish of West Crewkerne includes the hamlets of Coombe, Woolminstone and Henley – and b ...

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

, who in 1630 sailed on the ''

Mary and John ''Mary and John'' was a 400-ton ship that is known to have sailed between England and the American colonies four times from 1607 to 1633. She was during the later voyages captained by Robert Davies and owned by Roger Ludlow (1590–1664), one of t ...

'' from

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

, in cooperation with the

Winthrop Fleet The Winthrop Fleet was a group of 11 ships led by John Winthrop out of a total of 16 funded by the Massachusetts Bay Company which together carried between 700 and 1,000 Puritans plus livestock and provisions from England to New England over the ...

, and helped in the Puritan founding of Dorchester, which he represented at the General Court of the

Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the ...

. Hull later surveyed lands for the new

Colony of Connecticut The ''Connecticut Colony'' or ''Colony of Connecticut'', originally known as the Connecticut River Colony or simply the River Colony, was an English colony in New England which later became Connecticut. It was organized on March 3, 1636 as a settl ...

, including

Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places Australia * Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area * Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland **Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...

and Wethersfield; helped found Fairfield; and served as a representative to the General Court and as assistant to his good friend

Roger Ludlow Roger Ludlow (1590–1664) was an English lawyer, magistrate, military officer, and colonist. He was active in the founding of the Colony of Connecticut, and helped draft laws for it and the nearby Massachusetts Bay Colony. Under his and John Mas ...

, who appointed him associate magistrate for towns along the shoreline.''New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial; A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation'' (4 vols., New York, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), vol. 3, 1183, William Richard Cutter
/ref> Notable people with the surname Hull include: *

Alan Hull James Alan Hull (20 February 1945 – 17 November 1995) was an English singer-songwriter and founding member of the Tyneside folk rock band Lindisfarne. Career Hull was born at 68 Sutton's Dwellings, Adelaide Terrace, Benwell, Newcastle upon ...

, English musician and songwriter *

Blair Hull Blair Hull (born September 3, 1942) is an American businessman, investor, Democratic politician, and philanthropist. Hull founded Hull Trading Company in 1985 and served as the firm's Chairman and chief executive officer before selling it to Gol ...

, American businessman and politician *

Bobby Hull Robert Marvin Hull OC (born January 3, 1939) is a Canadian former ice hockey player who is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His blonde hair, skating speed, end-to-end rushes, and ability to shoot the puck at very high veloc ...

(born 1939), Canadian ice hockey player *

Brett Hull Brett Andrew Hull (born August 9, 1964) is a Canadian–American former ice hockey player and general manager, and currently an executive vice president of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Calgary Flames, ...

(born 1964), Canadian–American ice hockey player; son of Bobby Hull *

Charles Henry Hull Charles Henry Hull (September 29, 1864 – July 15, 1936) was an American economist and historian. He worked at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York. In 1900, he was appointed professor of American History. In 1899, he published '' The Econom ...

(born 1864), American economist and historian * Chuck Hull (born 1939), American inventor of stereolithography * Caesar Barrand Hul (1914–1940), Southern Rhodesian World War II flying ace *

Clark L. Hull Clark Leonard Hull (May 24, 1884 – May 10, 1952) was an American psychologist who sought to explain learning and motivation by scientific laws of behavior. Hull is known for his debates with Edward C. Tolman. He is also known for his work in d ...

(1884–1952), American psychologist *

Cordell Hull Cordell Hull (October 2, 1871July 23, 1955) was an American politician from Tennessee and the longest-serving U.S. Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years (1933–1944) in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ...

(1871–1955), U.S. Secretary of State from 1933 to 1944 under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 *

Dennis Hull Dennis William Hull (born November 19, 1944) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played most of his career for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League. He is the brother of Bobby Hull and uncle of Brett Hull ...

(born 1944), Canadian ice hockey player; brother of Bobby Hull * Edith Maude Hull (1880–1947), British writer, author of the novel ''The Sheik'' * Edward Hull (1823–1906), English illustrator and watercolorist *

Edward Hull (geologist) Edward Hull (21 May 1829 – 18 October 1917) was an Irish geologist and stratigrapher who held the position of Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland. He was also a professor of geology in the Royal College of Science, Dublin. His dates a ...

(1829–1917), Irish geologist and stratigrapher, Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland *

Eleanor Hull Eleanor Henrietta Hull also known as Eibhlín Ní Choill (15 January 1860 – 13 January 1935) was a writer, journalist and scholar of Old Irish. Life and family Hull was born on 15 January 1860 in Manchester, England. Her father, Edward Hull, ...

(1860–1935), writer, journalist, and scholar of

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic ( sga, Goídelc, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ga, Sean-Ghaeilge; gd, Seann-Ghàidhlig; gv, Shenn Yernish or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive writt ...

Emmett J. Hull Emmett J. Hull (September 9, 1882 - October 20, 1957) was an American architect. He designed many buildings in Mississippi, especially houses in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, Jackson, many of which are listed on the National Register of H ...

(1882–1957), American architect * Everett Hull (1904–1981), American musician, inventor of the

bass amplifier A bass amplifier (also abbreviated to bass amp) is a musical instrument electronic device that uses electrical power to make lower-pitched instruments such as the bass guitar or double bass loud enough to be heard by the performers and audien ...

, and founder of

Ampeg Ampeg is a manufacturer best known for its bass amplifiers. Originally established in 1946 in Linden, New Jersey by Everett Hull and Stanley Michaels as "Michael-Hull Electronic Labs," today Ampeg is part of the Yamaha Guitar Group. Although ...

* Francesca Hull, cast member in British TV series ''Made in Chelsea'' *

Frank Montgomery Hull Frank Montgomery Hull (November 3, 1901 – 1982) was an American naturalist who specialized in entomology, especially Diptera. Works * * * * References American entomologists 1982 deaths 1901 births People from Coahoma, Mississi ...

(1901–1982), American entomologist * Gertrude Hull (1866–1947), American educator *

Gordon Ferrie Hull Gordon Ferrie Hull (October 7, 1870 in Garnet, Ontario, Canada – October 7, 1956) was a Canadian-American mathematician, teacher and physicist, especially known for the experimental detection of the radiation pressure exerted by light which he ac ...

, American physicist * Harold Hull (1920–1988), American professional basketball player *

Henry Hull Henry Watterson Hull (October 3, 1890 – March 8, 1977) was an American character actor perhaps best known for playing the lead in Universal Pictures's ''Werewolf of London'' (1935). For most of his career, he was a lead actor on stage and a ch ...

(1890–1977), American actor * Isaac Hull, early United States Naval officer, Captain of the USS ''Constitution'' during the battle with HMS ''Guerriere'' *

James L. Hull James Lott Hull (November 27, 1873 – July 25, 1928) was a fireman first class serving in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery. Biography Hull was born November 27, 1873, in Pato ...

, American Medal of Honor recipient *

Jane Dee Hull Jane Dee Hull (; August 8, 1935 – April 16, 2020) was an American politician and educator. In 1997, she ascended to the office of governor of Arizona following the resignation of Fife Symington, becoming the state's 20th governor. Hull was ...

(1935-2020), American educator and politician, governor of Arizona * John Hull (disambiguation), several people * John Hull (1624–1683), English colonist; Treasurer and mintmaster of the Massachusetts Bay Colony * John Hull (1761–1843), English physician, obstetrician, and botanist * John A. Hull (1874–1944), Judge Advocate General (1924–1928) and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (1932–1936) * John A. T. Hull (1841–1928), American lawyer and politician from Iowa * John C. Hull, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 1925–1928 and First Securities Director 1930–1936 * John C. Hull, Professor of Derivatives and Risk Management at the University of Toronto *

John E. Hull John Edwin Hull (May 26, 1895 – June 10, 1975) was a United States Army general, former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, commanded Far East Command from 1953 to 1955 and the U.S. Army, Pacific from 1948 to 1949. He served in bo ...

(1895–1975), U.S. Army general * John H. E. Hull (1923–1977), English theologian and writer on religion *

John M. Hull John Martin Hull (22 April 1935 – 28 July 2015) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Education at the University of Birmingham. He was the author of a number of books and many articles in the fields of religious education, practical theology an ...

, Australian-born professor of religious education at the University of Birmingham * Joseph Hull (1595–1665), English colonist and clergyman in New England *

Josephine Hull Marie Josephine Hull (née Sherwood; January 3, 1877 – March 12, 1957) was an American stage and film actress who also was a director of plays. She had a successful 50-year career on stage while taking some of her better known roles to film. Sh ...

, American stage and film actress *

Katherine Hull Katherine Kirk (born 26 February 1982) is a professional golfer from Australia, currently playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the ALPG Tour. She played under her maiden name, Katherine Hull, until her marriage to Tom Kirk on 2 August 2012 ...

(born 1982), Australian golfer *

Kay Hull Kay Elizabeth Hull (born 3 February 1954) is a former Australian politician who served as a National Party member of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2010, representing the Division of Riverina in New South Wales. Hull was born in Gu ...

, Australian politician *

Laurens Hull Laurens Hull (June 6, 1779 – June 27, 1865) was an American physician and politician from New York. Life He was the son of Dr. Titus Hull (1751–1817) and Olive (Lewis) Hull (1754–1812). He was born in that part of Woodbury which was sep ...

(1779–1865), American physician and politician from New York *

Lexie Hull Lexie Lauren Hull (born September 13, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal, with whom she was a ...

(1999–),is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) *

Merlin Hull Merlin Gray Hull (December 18, 1870 – May 17, 1953) was a lawyer, a newspaper publisher, and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin. Born in Farina, Illinois to John and Adelia Hull, Merlin Hull was a graduate of ...

, U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin * Rae Hull, Canadian journalist *

R. F. C. Hull R. F. C. Hull (full name: Richard Francis Carrington Hull; 5 March 1913 – 16 December 1974), was a British translator, best known for his role in translating ''The Collected Works of C.G. Jung''. He also translated many other scholarly works. ...

(1913–1974), British translator of the works of

Carl Jung Carl Gustav Jung ( ; ; 26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology. Jung's work has been influential in the fields of psychiatry, anthropology, archaeology, literature, philo ...

Rod Hull Rod, Ror, Ród, Rőd, Rød, Röd, ROD, or R.O.D. may refer to: Devices * Birch rod, made out of twigs from birch or other trees for corporal punishment * Ceremonial rod, used to indicate a position of authority * Connecting rod, main, coupling ...

(1935–1999), English entertainer *

Ross Hull Ross Hull (born August 25, 1975) is a Canadian actor and television personality. He is known for his role as Chris Sheppard on Canadian sitcom ''Student Bodies'' and as Gary, the leader of the Midnight Society, on the television series ''Are Yo ...

Canadian actor and TV personality * Ross A. Hull Australian-American radio engineer * Stephen A. Hull, American politician * Thomas Hull (disambiguation), several people *

Thomas Hull Thomas Hull may refer to: *Thomas Hull (actor) (1728–1808), English actor and dramatist * Thomas Hull (MP) (1528–1575/1576), English politician * Thomas Gray Hull (1926–2008), American judge *Tom Hull (American football) (born 1952), American ...

(1728–1808), English actor and dramatist *

Warren Hull John Warren Hull (January 17, 1903 – September 14, 1974), known professionally as Warren Hull, was an American actor, singer and television personality active from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was one of the most popular serial actors in t ...

(1903–1974), film actor and TV personality * William Hull (disambiguation), several people *

William Hull William Hull (June 24, 1753 – November 29, 1825) was an American soldier and politician. He fought in the American Revolutionary War and was appointed as Governor of Michigan Territory (1805–13), gaining large land cessions from several Ame ...

, American general during the American Revolutionary War and War of 1812 *

(1820–1880), English watercolor landscape and still-life painter, illustrator, and etcher * William Lovell Hull (1897–1992), Canadian minister, missionary, author, and spiritual counselor to

Adolf Eichmann Otto Adolf Eichmann ( ,"Eichmann"
''

William Roper Hull William Charles James Roper Hull (December 20, 1856 – April 4, 1925) was a Canadian rancher, meat packer, businessman, and philanthropist. He played a prominent role in western Canada's early economic development by integrating a systematic appr ...

(1856–1925), Anglo-Canadian rancher, meat packer, businessman, and philanthropist * William Winstanley Hull (1794–1873), English liturgical writer and hymnologist * William "Billy" Hull (b. 1912),

Ulster loyalist Ulster loyalism is a strand of Ulster unionism associated with working class Ulster Protestants in Northern Ireland. Like other unionists, loyalists support the continued existence of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom, and oppose a uni ...

activist and politician * Xiea Hull, model, teacher, author and psychologist from Antigua and Barbuda

References

{{Reflist English-language surnames Lists of people by surname Surnames