<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-16-068106.txt : 20161122
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-16-068106.hdr.sgml : 20161122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161122161841
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-16-068106
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161122

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:			Achary Michael M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001352815

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-36872
		FILM NUMBER:		162013409

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 4019
		CITY:			GULFPORT
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			39502
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <periodOfReport>2016-11-20</periodOfReport>

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

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            <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>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-20</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common - 401(k)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11503.7736</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>through 401K Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common - Individual Investment Account</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15491.51</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock-IRA</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3821.53</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

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        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-20</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>704</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2019-11-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-11-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-11-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-21</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vesting of restricted stock awards granted 11-20-14 with a vesting schedule of 20% per year.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Withholding of shares for payment of tax liability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Vesting of restricted stock awards granted 11-21-11 with a vesting schedule of 20% per year.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Restricted Stock Award granted in accordance with the Company's 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan.  These awards have a five year vesting schedule.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Restricted Stock Award granted in accordance with the Company's 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. These awards have a five year vesting schedule.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael M. Achary by Trisha V. Carlson (POA)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
