-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FlXeJQHNrr1wAv55WgJ6NWjIcVFMdUhY0bAufiU8W72VVXkmHHlDOMoz+VXaTHn+
 pcEm7Zl20gHIzxleCdJPEw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-004896.txt : 20031224
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-004896.hdr.sgml : 20031224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031224162210
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-004896
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031224

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANCOCK HOLDING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000750577
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				640693170
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MS
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HANCOCK PLZ
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 4019
		CITY:			GULFPORT
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			39501
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6018684605

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HANCOCK PLZ
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 4019
		CITY:			GULFPORT
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			39501

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HORNE JAMES H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001250122

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13089
		FILM NUMBER:		031073950

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 4019
		CITY:			GULFPORT
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			39502
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2282145242

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 4019
		CITY:			GULFPORT
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			39502
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-22</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000750577</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANCOCK HOLDING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HBHC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250122</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HORNE JAMES H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 4019</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GULFPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>39502</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-22</value>
        </transactionDate>

        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-12-26</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>26.8384</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>55.89</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>324.8215</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
<remarks>Acquisition pursuant to Director's Deferred Compensation Plan.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James H. Horne</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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