Surname Hossack - Meaning and Origin

Hossack: What does the surname Hossack mean?

The last name Hossack is an Anglicized spelling of the Scottish toponymic surname Hoseck, which is derived from the name of a village located in Angus, Scotland. The name itself is derived from the Gaelic words "hos" meaning "hollow", and "dubh" meaning "dark".

The prevalence of the Hossack surname is concentrated in Scotland, but it is also found throughout England, as well as parts of Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. It is believed that bearers of this name moved to these countries at various times in history, but it is unclear when this happened. Many of the earliest known mentions of this surname date back to the 15th century in Angus.

In Scotland, the Hossack last name is generally associated with the Clan Gordon. Historically, the Hossacks of Angus were supporters or members of Clan Gordon, and this connection was evident during the Jacobite Uprisings in the 18th century. To this day, many of the bearers of the Hossack name are descendants of Clan Gordon.

Today, the Hossack surname is common throughout the English-speaking world. It serves as a reminder of Scotland's rich heritage and shared history with other countries. For bearers of this name, it is a reminder of a past connection to a particular place and people.

Hossack: Where does the name Hossack come from?

The last name Hossack is an uncommon surname today; however, it is found throughout the U.S., Canada, and some other countries. The highest concentrations of the Hossack name are still found in the British Isles, particularly Scotland, where it has been for centuries. The name also appears in parts of Europe, such as Germany, France and Spain, but it is not as common there as in the UK.

The main sources of the Hossack surname were from the Scottish-English border regions. The Hossack name first appears in the records from the mid-13th century in Scotland; however, it is believed it originated in England. It is thought to have derived from an Old English personal name, which was usually a nickname, such as “Hose” meaning “son of horse”. It could also have derived from a local name for a nickname, such as “Hosco”, which means “the dweller near a bay”.

The surname is still common in the Hebbridean Islands of Scotland today, along with the border regions of England and Scotland. It is also found in counties such as Caithness and Shetland. It is still quite common in areas in the north of England such as Durham, Northumberland and Lancashire. The name is still found quite frequently in other parts of the United Kingdom, including London and other major cities. Further afield, the surname appears in the US and Canada, and it is growing in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Hossack

The surname Hossack is believed to have originated in Scotland, and it is known by many variations. Common spelling variations include Hosack, Hosak, Hosick, Hossack, Hossak, Hossick and Hossick.

When researching this surname, one might also come across the surname variant forms, which are the more unique archaic spellings of Hossack. These variants include Hassock, Hausack, Hassick, and Hassac.

Other international variations of the surname Hossack include Hosacko (Polish), Hausack (German/Slovak), Hoschyk (Ukrainian), Housak (Czech) and Hosack (Dutch).

The surname of Hossack is not particularly common, and it is not likely that one will encounter this surname outside of Scotland. It is also not associated with a particular region or local area.

In Scotland, variants of the surname Hossack were assigned to many different clans, such as the MacFearsomes of Aberdeenshire, the Gunn Clan of Caithness, and the Lindsays of Mcreath.

In the United States, the surname Hossack is most commonly found in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. It is also found in many other states including, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas.

Outside of Scotland the surname Hossack is primarily treated as a patronymic or Anglicized variant, where forms such as Hosack and Hausak are more commonly found. This means that the surname is very rarely kept in its original spelling, and is often adapted to fit the given culture or language.

Famous people with the name Hossack

• John Hossack: Civil war veteran who died fighting in the Battle of Shiloh in 1862.
• Megan Hossack: Canadian soccer player and former Canadian national team member.
• Michael Hossack: American drummer, who played with The Doobie Brothers.
• James Hossack: British aeronautical engineer and inventor.
• Stephanie Hossack: English television presenter and journalist.
• Margaret Hossack: British artist and sculptor.
• Alan Hossack: English Tyson Fury's boxing coach.
• Christina Hossack: Scottish sculptor and visual artist.
• Charles Hossack: Canadian football player and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
• Angus Hossack: New Zealand lawyer, academic and philanthropist.
• Stephen Hossack: British actor who starred in films such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
• Graham Hossack: British newspaper chief correspondent.
• Holly Hossack: English television presenter and fashion designer.
• Peter Hossack: Australian actor who is known for his role in comedies such as ‘Life Without Dick’ and ‘Hate Mail’.
• Victoria Hossack: Canadian politician, who served as a Member of Parliament in Ottawa.
• Kenneth Hossack: Canadian minister of religion in Upper Canada.
• Robert Hossack: Northern Irish actor who appeared in films such as ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’ and ‘King Arthur’.
• Colin Hossack: British musician and songwriter, who has played bass for bands such as Samson and Wildfire.
• William Hossack: New Zealand politician, who was a leader of the Liberal Party.
• Francis Hossack: British military leader, who fought in the American War of Independence.

Other surnames

Hossain