The Hook surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 13,437 people carried this name — #2,680 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 21,900 people counted. That is up 2% from 13,171 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Hook surname

As an English surname, from the noun hook.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Hook» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘at the hook’.

An early record he cites: Robert de Hok, Somerset, 1327–28 (1 Edward III) — Kirby's Quest (Somerset).

His entry covers Hook and Hooke.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 396 · public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

1,155 people named Hook are counted in Sweden and Finland.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 902
Finland (2026) 253

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Hook was found among the farmers of Sussex: 18 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Sussex 18

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

79 families named Hook, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 474 people lived in those households, 6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

New Hampshire 18
Pennsylvania 18
Maryland 16
North Carolina 11
Virginia 6
South Carolina 5
Massachusetts 3
New York 2

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 246 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Hook in American newspapers,
1808–1882.

Newspaper page from Public Ledger carrying the name Hook
Public Ledger 1882-08-18
Newspaper page from The Cheyenne Leader carrying the name Hook
The Cheyenne Leader 1869-06-18
Newspaper page from Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser carrying the name Hook
Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser 1808-11-07

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,103 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Hook in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

37,996 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hook. The most, 7,678, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 13,964
Victoria 8,738
Queensland 5,863
South Australia 3,868
Tasmania 3,430
Western Australia 1,782
ACT (Canberra) 190
Northern Territory 93

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hook.

Who carried it

People named Hook,
with a public archive behind them.

  • James Hook
    James Hook 1746–1827 · composer
  • James Hook
    James Hook 1746–1827 · composer
  • Theodore Hook
    Theodore Hook 1788–1841 · writer
  • Theodore Hook
    Theodore Hook 1788–1841 · writer
  • Walter Farquhar Hook
    Walter Farquhar Hook 1798–1875 · writer
  • Harriet Horncastle Hook d. 1805 · writer

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Hook,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,488 records

1,488 records of the Hook name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 501
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 284
  • Other U.S. records 703
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Thomas Lj J. Hook

    Born 1909 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1942 at Boston; driver from Middlesex County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Joseph Hook

    Born 1919 in New York. Enlisted 1942 in the Women's Army Corps at Fort Jay Governors Island; woodworker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1978, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Suzanna Hook

    Arrived at New York in 1843 aboard the Burgundy from Havre, aged 26; farmer. From Bavaria, Germany.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,488 records for Hook in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia659 records

659 records of the Hook name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 278
  • Tasmanian Names Index 143
  • Other Australian records 238
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Catherine Lucy Hook

    Born 1860 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1887 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 26.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Ann Jane Hook

    Born 1853 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1882 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 29.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Edward Hook

    Born 1864 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1886 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 22. Died 1914 in Tasmania, aged 49.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 659 records for Hook in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada67 records

67 records of the Hook name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 19
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 15
  • Other Canadian records 33
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Rob't Hook

    Came to Ontario in 1865 aboard the Moravian, landing at Quebec, bound for Barrie, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Imogene Kathryn Hook

    Buried in 1985 at Union Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 78.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Mena Chow Hook

    Died 1918; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 67 records for Hook in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

Germany54 records

54 records of the Hook name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 52
  • German emigration and citizenship files 2
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Nikolaus Hook

    From Virnheim, Heppenheim. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 27 March 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 223).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Barbara Hook

    Emigrated to North America in 1868.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Heinrich Hook

    From Großheide, Norden. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 6 April 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 144).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 54 records for Hook in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

United Kingdom41 records

41 records of the Hook name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 28
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 11
  • Other British records 2
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Reuben John Hook

    Born 1898 at Sidmouth. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Hook

    Died 1953, aged 74; buried at Drymen Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jane Hook

    Buried in 1824 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 28.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 41 records for Hook in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands35 records

35 records of the Hook name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 23
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 6
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 6
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Albertus Hook

    Married in 1812 in Rijssen; weaver.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Taak Hendrik Hook

    Married in 1851 in Amsterdam; seaman.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Ling H. Hook

    Died 1927 in Rotterdam, aged 39.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 35 records for Hook in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Finland13 records

13 records of the Hook name in Finland
  • Finland's war dead, 1939–1945 8
  • Finland's war dead, 1914–1922 5
  1. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Karl Albert Höök

    Born 1866 in Padasjoki; carpenter. Died in 1918 in Hämeenlinna, one of the dead of Finland's wars of 1914–1922.

    Kansallisarkisto, via Sotasurmasampo (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Onni Einar Höök

    Born 1910 in Kuhmoinen; general labourer. Died in 1944 during Finland's wars of 1939–1945; buried in Helsinki.

    Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 13 records for Hook in Finland.

Counts: Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0) · Kansallisarkisto, via Sotasurmasampo (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

New Zealand8 records

8 records of the Hook name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 7
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ethel Hook

    Died 1956, aged 73; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record E. Hook

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 2 of 8 records for Hook in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

France3 records

3 records of the Hook name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marie Niella Hook

    Born 1919 in Madagascar; died 1998 in Toulon (Var).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Hook in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Hook.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Hook is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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