Hancock Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Hancock last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Hancock last name
Meaning of the Hancock last name: little John. Hancock is an English surname from Hann, a medieval pet form of John, with the ending -cock that was added to many short names. The last name is found especially in Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Shropshire. A curious detail: John Hancock's large signature on the Declaration of Independence was so famous that in America "John Hancock" came to mean any signature.
Arms associated with the Hancock name
English heraldry loves puns, choosing figures that echo the sound of a name, and that playful custom runs through many coats of arms linked with the Hancock name.
Get your full Hancock family history
This is only a glimpse of the Hancock story. The full Hancock history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Hancock coat of arms. Get the full Hancock report.
Hancock name FAQ
What does the Hancock name mean?
Little John. Common variants include Handcock, Hancocks, Hencock.
Where does the Hancock surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Hancock coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Hancock coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).