Surname Hockett - Meaning and Origin
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Hockett: What does the surname Hockett mean?
The last name Hockett is of English origin and is a name used to refer to ‘a dweller by the sheepfold or stockyard’. This is likely based on Old English hocc which means a 'hollow or deep place'. In more ancient times, these hollows were often used to pen or herd livestock, such as sheep, and were termed sheepfolds.
Historically, the surname Hockett was mainly associated with the north-eastern area of England around the 11th century. This suggests that the family originated from this region, and this is also supported by the fact that the name is highly localised in that area today. Hockett’s can be found in such locations as Durham, Northumberland, and Yorkshire.
The earliest record of the name was William de Hockett, first recorded in 1273 in County Durham. Later records include Giles Hockett, who married Dorothy Walker in York in 1584. As these records demonstrate, the name was well-established in many parts of England by the 16th century.
Today, the name Hockett is quite scarce but still relatively common in England. It is also found in the United States, mainly in the East and Midwest states. It is likely that families emigrated to America, retaining their surname and keeping the family tradition alive in a new land.
Order DNA origin analysisHockett: Where does the name Hockett come from?
The last name Hockett is primarily concentrated in the United States, with substantial populations also present in the United Kingdom. In the US, Hockett is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, with other large concentrations in Florida, Clinton County, Michigan, and the Midwest region as a whole. It is also found to a lesser extend in other states such as New York, California, and Ohio.
The surname originates from the Middle English "hoket," which means ‘hook’ and is believed to be an occupational name for a maker of hooks or fish or a fishmonger. This suggests that the family came from England where it was first adopted as a surname in the 13th century. The Hockett family is also connected to Burns, Learn, and Farrell as they have intermarried over the centuries. The ancestral home of the Hockett family is believed to be in Shropshire, England.
Interestingly, Hockett has made its way around the world in recent years. It is now present in many countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. Consequently, it is almost impossible to accurately determine the true prevalence of the last name Hockett in the modern age.
Variations of the surname Hockett
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hockett can be found in a variety of ways. One of the most common ways to trace back the origin of the name is through research into historical records. By scouring through historical documents such as birth and marriage records, people can sometimes uncover alternate spellings of the name.
Some of the variants and surnames that are related to Hockett include Hickat, Hocquet, Hecket, Heckett, Hocket, Heckette, Haakett, Haaketts, Hacket and Hackitt. Other spellings include Hoakett, Hoaket, Hoakets, Hoackett, Hoackets and Hoakett. There is also a potential connection to names such as Hoxie, Hoxsey, Hoxby, Hoxey and Hoxsby. It is possible that some of these names may derive from the same origins as the Hockett family.
The name has also traveled across the pond to the United States, where some of the variants and surnames of Hockett in the US include Hacket, Hecket, Hacketts, Hekett, Heket, Houchatt, Houchitt, Houchat, Houchet and Hawkett.
Overall, the surname Hockett is fairly common across various countries and regions of the world. It is very likely that there are even more variants and spellings that have not been discovered yet, and as research progresses into the origins of the name, there is always potential for further variant spellings and surnames to be unearthed.
Famous people with the name Hockett
- Charles C. Hockett: Linguist and anthropologist known for his contribution to the field of linguistics.
- Drew Hockett: American film editor best known for his work on "The Expendables" and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise.
- Henry Hockett: 19th century American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania.
- Percy Hockett: Actor and comedian who appeared on "The Jack Benny Program".
- Raphael Hockett: British actor who starred in the movie "Penelope".
- Rob Hockett: American actor who appeared in the 2014 horror movie "The Houses October Built".
- Rodney Hockett: Soccer player who played in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup for Trinidad and Tobago.
- Bryon Hockett: American football player who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins.
- Celeste Hockett: American writer and producer who has written for shows such as "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Cleveland Show".
- Chris Hockett: English radio and television host who hosted "Music Box Radio" on Kiss FM.