<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-17-032692.txt : 20171117
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-17-032692.hdr.sgml : 20171117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171117171417
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-17-032692
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Knight Cecil W. Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001680956

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-36872
		FILM NUMBER:		171211889

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 4019
		CITY:			GULFPORT
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			35902

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>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-11-15</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001680956</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Knight Cecil W. Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX4019</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GULFPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>39502</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chief Banking Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4344</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24397.9755</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Award granted in accordance with the Company's 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan. These awards vest incrementally over 3 years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Cecil W. Knight Jr. by Patricia K. Loupe (POA)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
