Hosac Family Ancestry

Hosac Name Meaning & History

Similar Surnames: Hosack, Hosick, Hosack

Hosack, (Hossack and Hosick) is a common northern Scots surname and an old one in the Inverness and Cromarty districts.

Alexander Hossack appears in Inverness in 1508, but the origin of the name says Macbain (v. P. 77) is obscure. It may be local ***”.1  Source credit: George Fraser Black. 

It may also be an Americanized form of the Czech Hosák or Slovak Hošak, which comes from a pet form of an old personal name based on the element host, meaning “guest”.

One research project by Eugene E. Trimble  traces the descendants of Alexander Hosack (“Hosick”), who was born in Galloway, Scotland around 1756 and brought to America in 1760. In 1778, he married in what is now Greenbrier County, Virginia.

1-1. Alexander Hosack (Hosick); born in Elgin Scotland; came to America as a British Artillery officer and fought at the Capture of Louisbourg; married in New York City, April 28, 1767, Jane Arden (daughter of Francis Arden of new York City). Children:2  + 1-2. David; born Aug. 31, 1769; died Dec. 22, 1835. 

A2. David Hosack; physician, surgeon, professor; born Aug. 31, 1769; died Dec. 22, 1835; baptized Oct. 1, 1769; married second Mary Eddy. Child: 

1-6. Alexander Eddy; born new York City, April ;6, 1805; died March 2, 1874; surgeon. 

Dr. David Hosack was the physician chosen by Alexander Hamilton to accompany him to the site of the duel. Hamilton was mortally wounded and in spite of the ministrations of Dr. Hosack and other doctors summoned by him, Hamilton died the next day at 2:00 p. m. For a more detailed account of the duel refer to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hosack

1. The Surnames of Scotland, by George Fraser Black, The New York Public Library, 1946, p. 365. 

2. Dictionary of American Biography, Volume IX, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, NY, 1932, pages 239-240.  S. Census 1790, New York.

Chet & Lorraine Hosac Family Chart

Hosac Family Sources & History