Question 1 Where does the nickname King Hancock come from? Answer The name was first used by members of the Continental Congress, who worried that Hancock would bring monarchy to the newly independent United States. The name was first used by British officers as an insult but later became a rallying cry for the patriot movement. The name was first used by Hancock’s family when he was a child, because they knew he was destined for great things. The name was coined by leaders of the Sons of Liberty.