Contents [hide]

Pocock History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Pocock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The name Pocock is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Pocock was a name used for a proud or gaudy person. The surname Pocock is derived from the various Old English words pecok, pacok, pocok, pehen, and pohen, which all mean peacock. 1

Early Origins of the Pocock family

The surname Pocock was first found in Essex where Pecoc was name of a Domesday tenant in Essex in 1086. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the name throughout ancient Britain: Geoffrey Pokoc, Cambridgeshire; Hugh Pokok, Oxfordshire; and Robert Pokoc, Lincolnshire. 1 In Somerset, Walter Pokok and Roger Pokok were listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 3

Early Cornish records show Roger Paucoc and Roger Paucoc, Pecoc in the Pipe Rolls of 1194. Richard Pocok was listed in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1225 and Simon Pacock was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297. Robert Pecok (Paycock) was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. 4

This name is "found in several parts of England, but its great home is in the North Riding [of Yorkshire], especially in the districts of Richmond and Northallerton. It was represented as Pocok, Pokoc, Pokok, and Pecock in the 13th century in Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk; in the last two counties it is still well established. Speaking generally, this name characterizes the eastern half of England." 5

In Scotland, the first entry of the family in interesting: "A gift of six pennies annually was made from the toft of Roger Pacok in Annan in thirteenth century." 6 This source goes on to note "Andreas Pacok was presbyter and notary public in the diocese of St. Andrews, 1311-1321, and the name appears frequently in the parish register of Dunfermline, 1561-1700, as Paycok (1564) and Paicok (1572). Thomas Pacok had grant of a third part of the land of Quhitfeilde in the barony of Lyntounrothrike in 1378, and another Thomas Pacok was elevated to chaplain in 1426. " 6

Early History of the Pocock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pocock research. Another 237 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1512, 1536, 1585, 1591, 1596, 1598, 1601, 1604, 1631, 1652, 1673, 1682, 1691, 1706, 1707, 1714, 1718, 1724, 1725, 1733, 1738, 1754, 1755, 1756, 1757, 1792, 1843 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Pocock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pocock Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Pocock include Pocock, Pococke and others.

Early Notables of the Pocock family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir George Pocock (1706-1792), British admiral, son of Thomas Pocock, chaplain in the navy, was born on the 6th of March 1706, and entered the navy under the protection of his maternal uncle, Captain...
Edward Pococke (1604-1691), was an English Orientalist and biblical scholar. Born in Oxford, in a house near the Angel Inn in the parish of St. Peter-in-the-East, his father, Edward Pocock, matriculat...

Pocock migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Pocock were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Pocock Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Pocock, who arrived in New England in 1661

Pocock Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Charles Pocock, who arrived in Maryland in 1743
John Pocock, a bonded passenger, who arrived in America in 1750
James Pocock, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1771
William Pocock, who settled in Maryland in 1775

Pocock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Pocock, aged 40, who landed in New York in 1812 7
George Pocock, who arrived in New York in 1820 with his wife Rebecca and two children

Pocock migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pocock Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

A D Pocock, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Pocock migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Pocock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

George Pocock, English convict from Berkshire, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. John Pocock, English convict who was convicted in Berkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "England"on 28th April 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Joseph Pocock, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Hannah M. Pocock, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Hartley" in 1837 11
John Pocock, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ganges" in 1839 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pocock migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Pocock Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Lieut. Charles Pocock, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Spray of the Ocean" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st September 1859 13
James Pocock, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1874
Louisa Pocock, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1874
Louisa J. Pocock, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1874
Sydney M. Pocock, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1874

Pocock migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 14

Pocock Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Richard Pocock, who settled in Barbados in 1679
Christopher Pocock, who arrived in Barbados in 1679

Pocock Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

William Pocock, who settled in Jamaica in 1731

Contemporary Notables of the name Pocock (post 1700) +

Cyrena Sue Pocock, birth name of Cyrena van Gordon, American operatic contralto
James A. Pocock, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 59th District, 1972, 1978 15
John Greville Agard Pocock ONZM (1924-2023), English-born, New Zealand historian of political thought, known for his work on the history of English common law
William Innes Pocock (1783-1836), English 1lieutenant in the navy and author, second son of Nicholas Pocock, the marine painter
William Fuller Pocock (1779-1849), English architect, son of a builder, born in the city of London
Robert Pocock (1760-1830), English printer and antiquary, born at Gravesend, Kent, second son of John Pocock (1720–1772), grocer
Nicholas Pocock (1741-1821), English marine painter, the eldest son of Nicholas Pocock, a Bristol merchant
Lewis Pocock (1808-1882), English artist, third and youngest son of Thomas Pocock
Sir George Pocock (1706-1792), English admiral son of Thomas Pocock, F.R.S., chaplain in the Navy
Thomas Allcot Guy "Tom" Pocock (1925-2007), English biographer, war correspondent, journalist and naval historian
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Pocock family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Ronald Pocock, British Stoker 2ne Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 16

HMS Royal Oak

Herbert Edward Pocock, British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 17

The Pocock Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Regi regnoque fidelis
Motto Translation: Faithful to king and kingdom.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARTLEY 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Hartley.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GANGES 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Ganges.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html