-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OxtymCL2XAVabEkGQxzdCV9ixym+FCs3H7/JkyyPMBmm31/w/j5mVV5KjFwslQYH
 fQe7mRm8vr2kdj6WBpw15w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-09-000087.txt : 20090105
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-09-000087.hdr.sgml : 20090105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090105194455
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-09-000087
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081230
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Achary Michael M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001352815

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13089
		FILM NUMBER:		09507835

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		228.563.6559

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 4019
		CITY:			GULFPORT
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			39502

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000750577</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANCOCK HOLDING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HBHC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001352815</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Achary Michael M</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-01-05</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6771</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-12-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-12-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6771</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6771</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Awards</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-01-05</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1516</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-12-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-12-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1516</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1516</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Awards granted on December 30, 2008 have a five year vesting schedule.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Incentive Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Awards granted in accordance with the Company's 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael M. Achary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----