# Occupational surnames

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupational-surnames/28387>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 7, 2000, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupational-surnames/28387 "2000-08-07T06:24:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![nebuli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/0ea827/32.png) [@nebuli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nebuli)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupational-surnames/28387/21 "2000-08-10T00:16:01Z")

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According to _A Dictionary of Surnames_ by Patricia Hanks and Flavia Hedges (1988; Oxford University Press) the surname Hooker has two different origins- some people received the name because they made and sold hooks as agricultural implements, or used them in their work; others received the name not for their occupation, but because they lived near a “hook” of land, i.e. a bend in a river or a spur on a hill.

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