Show ContentsCook History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Cook Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Cook

What does the name Cook mean?

The saga of the name Cook follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a cook, a seller of cooked meats, or a keeper of an eating-house. The surname Cook is derived from the Old English word coc, which means cook. 1 2

Early Origins of the Cook family

The surname Cook was first found in Essex where the first found record the name was Aelfsige Coc (c.950) who is recorded in an early reference of Anglo-Saxon Wills, 3 more than one hundred years before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066.

Galter Coc was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Essex and almost two hundred years later, Walter le Kuc was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1260. Continuing the quest, we found Richard Cok in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1269, Henry Coke in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1279, Ralph le Cook and Joan Cokes in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. Robert le Couk was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 and Roger le Kokes in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed John Cocus in Norfolk, Alexander Cocus in Yorkshire, Emma Coca in Cambridgeshire and Matthew Cocus in Oxfordshire. 2

Ireby in Lancashire was home to another branch of the family. "This place is written 'Irebi' in the Domesday Survey, and then comprehended three carucates of land. In the reign of James I., lived Thomas Cooke de Irebye. The family of Cooke were the former possessors of the Hall, sometimes called Fothergill Hall, and sometimes Nether Hall." 4

Early History of the Cook family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cook research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1561, 1583, 1598, 1608, 1616, 1637, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1643, 1648, 1659, 1660, 1663, 1672, 1683, 1700, 1701, 1715, 1717, 1721, 1734, 1752, 1757, 1758, 1793, 1797, 1802, 1814 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cook History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cook Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cook were recorded, including Cooke, Cook, Cocus and others.

Early Notables of the Cook family

  • John Cooke (or John Cook, John Coke, 1608-1660), the first Solicitor General of the English Commonwealth and led the prosecution of Charles
  • Francis Cooke (1583-1663), one of the 102 passengers on the Mayflower
  • Captain Henry Cooke (c.1616-1672), an English composer, actor and singer, Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and joined the Royalist cause, Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal (1660-1672)
  • Sir William Cooke of Highnam
  • Sir Robert Cooke (c. 1598-1643), an English politician Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire (1640) and Tewkesbury (1641-1643)
  • Edward Cooke (died 1683), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury (1659)
  • Henry Cooke (1642-1700), an English artist, employed by the Ironmongers' Company who finished the portrait of Charles II at Chelsea Hospital
  • Elisha Cooke (1637-1715), an early American physician, politician, and businessman who was elected Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1683
  • Sir Anthony Cooke, Tutor to the King
  • Sir William Cookes, 1st Baronet, of Norgrove Court, Worcestershire
  • Sir Thomas Cookes, 2nd Baronet (1648-1701), benefactor of Worcester College, Oxford

Cook World Ranking

the United States, the name Cook is the 56th most popular surname with an estimated 298,440 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Cook is ranked the 104th most popular surname with an estimated 27,420 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Cook is the 141st popular surname with an estimated 269 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Cook as 52nd with 38,232 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Cook as 71st with 4,739 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Cook as 55th with 75,135 people. 10

Migration of the Cook family to Ireland

Some of the Cook family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cook migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Cook family emigrate to North America:

Cook Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Francis Cook, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 12
  • James Cook who settled in Maine in 1622
  • Mark Cook, who settled in Maine in 1622
  • Hester Cook, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 12
  • Aaron Cook, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Mary & John" 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cook Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Abraham Cook, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 12
  • Libby Cook, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 12
  • Tho Cook, who landed in Virginia in 1705 12
  • Cha Cook, who landed in Virginia in 1705 12
  • Fra Cook, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cook Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jos Cook, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 12
  • Daniel Cook, who arrived in America in 1818 12
  • Mr. Cook, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1821 12
  • Jamison Cook, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1828 12
  • Otto Cook, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1828 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cook Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. William J. Cook, (b. 1876), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th May 1900 en route to Biwabik, Minnesota, USA 13
  • Mr. Archibald Cook, (b. 1883), aged 22, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th October 1905 en route to Bingham, Maine, USA 13
  • Melbourne Cook, who landed in Mississippi in 1906 12

Cook migration to Canada +

Cook Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Ephraim Cook, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Charles Cook, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Christn Cook, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Charles Cook who settled in Nova Scotia in 1749 with his wife, son and daughter
  • Christn Cook who settled in Nova Scotia with his wife, son, 2 daughters and servant in 1749
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cook Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Azel Cook, who landed in Canada in 1828
  • Joseph Cook, who landed in Canada in 1831
  • James Cook, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
  • James Cook, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
  • Bell Cook, aged 10, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cook migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Miss Elizabeth Cook, (1768 - 1794), aged 19, British settler convicted in Warwickshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
  • Mr. John Cook, (d. 1790), British settler convicted in Northumberland, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 12
  • Mr. William Cook, British settler convicted in Buckinghamshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 12
  • Miss Elizabeth Cook, (1768 - 1794), aged 19, British settler convicted in Warwickshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 12
Second Fleet
  • Mr. James Cook, (d. 1792), British settler convicted in Lincolnshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealilng, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12
  • Mr. John Cook, British settler convicted in Warwickshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12
  • Mr. Richard Cook, British settler convicted in Warwickshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12
  • Mr. Samuel Cook, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12
  • Mr. William Crozie Cook, (d. 1794), British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12
Third Fleet
  • Miss Elizabeth Cook, (1754 - 1847), aged 33, English convict who was convicted in England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Charlotte" on 13th May 1787, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as transferred to the Friendship at Rio de Janeiro 12
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Cook Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Miss Elizabeth Cook, (b. 1754), aged 33, English convict who was convicted in England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Charlotte" on 13th May 1787, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1847, listed as transferred to the Friendship at Rio de Janeiro 14
  • Mr. William Cook, English convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Cook Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Cook 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:

Cook Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Charles John Cook, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
  • W Cook, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
  • C J R Cook, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Mary Ann
  • Edmond Cook, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Clifford
  • H Cook, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Adelaide 21
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cook (post 1700) +

  • James Cook (1728-1779), born in Yorkshire, the famous navigator who explored the St. Lawrence, the shores of Newfoundland, circumnavigated the globe charting New Zealand, Australia and explored much of the Pacific and Southern Ocean. His last voyage was to Hawaii in 1779 where he was killed by the natives
  • Thomas Cook (1808-1892), British railway excursion and tourist pioneer, founder of the travel agency Thomas Cook AG, he organised his first excursion, escorting about 500 people from Leicester to Loughborough in 1841
  • Doris "Little Cookie" Cook (1931-2025), American pitcher and outfielder who played from 1949-1953 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
  • Gayle Cook (1934-2025), American businesswoman who co-founded the Cook Group in 1963, a medical equipment manufacturing company
  • Dorothy Cook, Canadian infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1946)
  • Donna "Cookie" Jean Cook (1928-2006), American pitcher and outfielder who played (1946-1954) in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
  • Clara "Babe" Ruth Cook (1921-1996), American pitcher who played from 1943 through 1944 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
  • Roger A. Cook (1954-2024), American garden and landscape contractor
  • Kassidy Leigh Cook (b. 1995), American diver, who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics and 2024 Summer Olympics
  • ... (Another 47 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cataraqui
  • James Cook (b. 1818), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Anne Cook (b. 1822), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Mary Cook (b. 1840), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Jane Cook (b. 1843), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • John Cook (b. 1844), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • ... (Another 42 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Cook +

  • The Cook Family Genealogical Record and Their Family Connections by Bill J. Cook.
  • The Cook Family in America: A Family History of Thomas and Milly (Marcum) Cook and Their Descendants of Bedford County, Tennessee (c. 1770-1973) by Jerry Wayne Cook.
  • Cook's Crier, the Franklin Fireplace; Surname Index by Betty Harvey Williams.
  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  12. 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)
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  14. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charlotte
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  21. Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html

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