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Origin Displayed: English

Where did the English Cooke family come from? What is the English coat of arms/family crest? When did the Cooke family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

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

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 Cooke include Cooke, Cook, Cocus and others.

First found in Essex where they were seated from very ancient times.

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 Cooke were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Chas 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.

For more information on the last name Cooke, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.


Suggested Readings for the name Cooke
  • The Family of Elisha Cooke by Florence Adelaine Newberry.
  • Things That Count-The Story of the Cooke Family by Velma Cooke.

Some noteworthy people of the name Cooke
  • Terence James Cooke (1921-1983), American Roman Catholic clergyman, Bishop of New York (1969-80)
  • Alistair Cooke (1908-2004), American (British-born) journalist and broadcaster
  • Benjamin Cooke (1734-1793), English composer, organist and teacher
  • Deryck Victor Cooke (1919-1976), English writer and broadcaster on music
  • George Frederick Cooke (1756-1812), English actor
  • Thomas Cooke (1703-1756), English author
  • Sir William Fothergill Cooke (1806-1879), English inventor
  • Robin Brunskill Cooke (1926-2006), Baron Cooke of Thorndon, member of the British House of Lords, considered New Zealand's greatest jurist
  • Martin Cooke, professor of Computer Science at the University of Sheffield, England


Tell Me More About Family Crests


Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist


We have researched the Cooke family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline


Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements


In the Cooke coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate


We encourage you to study the Cooke genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Cooke Family Crest Products


Anniversary products for the name Cooke.
Apparel revealing the Cooke family crest.
Armorial histories for the name Cooke.
Ceramics with a Cooke family crest.
Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.
Coat of Arms for the name Cooke.
Downloads displaying the Cooke family crest.
Family Crest for the name Cooke.
Family Tree emphasing the family crest for the name Cooke.
Hand Painted Plaques with a Cooke family crest.
Keychains proudly displaying the Cooke family crest.
Mouse pads revealing the Cooke family crest.
Packages with a Cooke coat of arms.
Plaques and Frames featuring the Cooke family crest.
Surname Histories for the name Cooke.
Travel Mugs with a Cooke family crest.
Popular Products
Armorial History With Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 150 DPI
Key-chain
Coffee Mug
Armorial History with Frame
Framed Surname History and Coat of Arms
 

The Cooke Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Cooke Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

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