Show ContentsHook History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Hook family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in Dorset at Hooke, a parish, in the union of Beaminster, hundred of Eggerton, Bridport division. Hooke is also a chapelry, in the parish of Snaith, union of Goole, Lower division of the wapentake of Osgoldcross in the West Ridig of Yorkshire and Hook is a hamlet, in the parish and union of Kingston-Upon-Thames, First division of the hundred of Kingston in Surrey. 1

"Many localities in England bear the name of "the Hook," an expression which is doubtless topographical, though its precise derivation is not known. It is probably allied to the Teutonic hoe, hoh, hoch, Sec., all meaning a hill or elevated place. The surname was written in the XIV. cent. atte Hooke, and this by crasis sometimes became Tooke. It may be mentioned that Hoke, as a personal name, occurs in Saxon times. " 2

The name typically means "place at the hook of land, or bend in a river or hill." 3

Early Origins of the Hook family

The surname Hook was first found in Devon where one of the first records of the name was found in 1050-71 in a reference of Old English Bynames of Devon. Later in the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire, the Latin form of the name, Hervicus and Richard Hoc were listed in 1218. By 1230, the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire had listed John Hook, the first listing of the name as it is more commonly spelt today. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Reginald de le Hoke, Wiltshire, Walter del Hoke, Gloucestershire, and Love del Hok, Oxfordshire. 5

In Somerset, Robert de Hok, Richard atte Hoke, and Robert atte Houk were all listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign). 6

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Margareta del Hoke, webester, Alexander de Hok, and Willelmus de Hok. 5

To the north in Scotland, "William de Huk was in charge of Thomas Galloway, 1296 and Adam de Huke, was a tenant in "vill" of Moffet, 1376. 7

Early History of the Hook family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hook research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1270, 1275, 1296, 1417, 1575, 1580, 1600, 1618, 1620, 1628, 1635, 1636, 1640, 1642, 1649, 1653, 1655, 1658, 1664, 1672, 1674, 1677, 1681, 1703, 1712, 1716, 1738, 1763 and 1796 are included under the topic Early Hook History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hook Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hook include Hook, Hooke, Hoke and others.

Early Notables of the Hook family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Reverend Thomas Huyck DCL (died 1575), Chancellor of the Diocese of London; Sir Richard Hook of Scotland; and Humphrey Hooke (1580-1658), a Member of Parliament for Bristol (1640-1642), who supported...
  • William Hook (1600-1677), was a Puritan divine, "said to have been born of respectable parents in Hampshire in 1600; perhaps he was one of the Hooks of Bramshott in that county. He became commoner of...
  • Robert Hooke, FRS (1635-1703), was an English natural philosopher who discovered Hooke's law. He "was born on 18 July 1635 at Freshwater in the Isle of Wight, his father, the Rev. John Hooke, being mi...
  • Nicholas Hookes (1628-1712), was the author of 'Amanda,' a Londoner by birth, and was a king's scholar at Westminster School. He was elected to a scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1649, an...

Hook Ranking

In the United States, the name Hook is the 2,285th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Hook family to Ireland

Some of the Hook family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 182 words (13 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Hook migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hook or a variant listed above:

Hook Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Hook, who settled in Plymouth in 1620
  • William Hook who arrived in Maine in 1635 aboard the ship "Angel Gabriel"
  • Thomas Hook, who settled in Virginia in 1663
Hook Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jonas Hook, who landed in Virginia in 1705 9
  • Stephven Hook, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 9
  • Christian Hook, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 9
  • Andreas Hook, aged 35, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 9
  • Robert Hook, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hook Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Hook, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 9
  • Mrs. Cath. Hook, (nee Bartels), German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Margaretha"
  • Miss Louise Hook, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Margaretha"
  • Mr. Wilh. Hook, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Margaretha"
  • Miss Johanna Hook, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Margaretha"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hook migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hook Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Hook, English buther who was convicted in Northumberland, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
  • Joseph Hook, English convict from Buckinghamshire, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Stanley Hook, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 12
  • James Hook, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 13
  • Mr. John Hook, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hook migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hook Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Bennett Hook, aged 29, a widow, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" in 1840
  • Rachael Hook, aged 12, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" in 1840
  • Emily Hook, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" in 1840
  • Joseph Hook, aged 47, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 15
  • Mr. Joseph Hook, South African settler travelling from Cape Town aboard the ship "Eveline" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd January 1865 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hook (post 1700) +

  • Henry Hook (1955-2015), American creator of crossword puzzles
  • Jay Hook (b. 1936), American Major League Baseball starting pitcher
  • Frank Eugene Hook (1893-1982), American politician from Michigan
  • Sidney Hook (1902-1989), American philosopher, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Theodore Edward Hook (1788-1841), English author
  • Peter Hook (b. 1956), born Peter Woodhead, English bass player, musician and author
  • James Clarke Hook RA (1819-1907), English landscape and marine painter
  • James Hook (1746-1827), English composer and organist
  • Jake Patrick Robert Hook, English songwriter and producer, best known for his hit single "Coming Home"
  • Alfred Henry "Harry" Hook VC (1850-1905), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Elsie Hook, English 3rd Class passenger returning from Toronto, Ontario, Canada relocating to England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 17
  • Master Frank Hook, English 3rd Class passenger returning from Toronto, Ontario, Canada relocating to England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 18
  • Mr. George Hook, English 3rd Class passenger returning from Toronto, Ontario, Canada relocating to England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 18
SS Atlantic
  • Mr. William Hook, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking


Suggested Readings for the name Hook +

  • Descendants and Ancestors of Benjamin and Ann Frizelle Hooker (also Hook), 1976, with 1977 and 1978 & 1979 Supplements and Revisions Added by Malcolm D. Hooker.
  • William Henry Hooker (also Hook) and Descendants, 1793-1990 by Jerry Samuel Hooker.
  • A Pride of Kin by Callie Coe Wilson et al.

  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
  12. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838PestonjeeBomanjee.htm
  13. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Buckinghamshire.htm
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  18. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


Houseofnames.com on Facebook