In keeping with the theme of the literature it is possible he was even lying about his surname. He has never been given one in literature (as far as I know) and so the label we are left with is James Hook. For me, in real world terms, that means he never had one. The only mention I am aware of is from the original play which states that "Hook" is not his real name but that he can't reveal his real name. I think this is one of those situations where the character doesn't have an origin (canon) past the story they belong to and in more than one version of the tale it is even remarked that James Hook became Captain Hook before he lost the hand to the crocodile in other words his name was always "Hook" and it's an ironic twist. I believe the only name ever given to Captain Hook is James and he is in some instances known as Captain James Hook. It's better for the story that we don't know his true name then each reader can exercise their own imagination to come up with whichever possibility would be most interesting or scandalous for them. And to give him a specific name, link him to an actual real-life figure of the British aristocracy, would take away from that mystique. Certainly his public-school background and adherence to "good form" does give him more depth, and (at least in my view) it's one of the more memorable things about him, making him more than just a villainous murderer. I doubt that Barrie has a particular person in mind when writing this passage probably it was just for effect, to give Hook an air of mystique and add more depth to his character. This is where the children of the British ruling class are educated.) (A note on terminology: " public school" in the British sense does not mean a public-sector school it refers to an elite group of private schools, including Eton, Winchester, Harrow, and Rugby. Chapter 14, "The Pirate Ship" (emphasis mine) But above all he retained the passion for good form. Thus it was offensive to him even now to board a ship in the same dress in which he grappled her, and he still adhered in his walk to the school’s distinguished slouch. To reveal who he really was would even at this date set the country in a blaze but as those who read between the lines must already have guessed, he had been at a famous public school and its traditions still clung to him like garments, with which indeed they are largely concerned. This inscrutable man never felt more alone than when surrounded by his dogs. He was often thus when communing with himself on board ship in the quietude of the night. The text suggests that he was originally a well-known figure (known for something other than being a villainous pirate), probably from the English aristocracy:
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