Show ContentsBabstake History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Babstake comes from the personal name Bartholomew. Bat(e) was a pet form of this personal name and when combined with 'cock' which was a common suffix for other names like Wilcox, Simcock and others became Batcock. 1 2

Early Origins of the Babstake family

The surname Babstake was first found in Worcestershire where Edrich Bathecoc was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1221. Later, the mononym Batecok was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1288 in Cheshire and later again, the same rolls listed Richard Batcok in 1285. Down in Dorset, we found William Badecok in 1297. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Geoffrey Batecok, London; William Badecok, Cambridgeshire; and Robert Batecoc, Oxfordshire. 2 In Somerset, Kirby's Quest lists Stephen Badcok and Badokok Jerveys, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III) 3

"The Rev. Samuel Badcock, the eminent divine, was born at South Molton in 1747, the son of a butcher, and the name still belongs to that trade in the town. There was a William Badecok in Cambridgeshire in the 13th century." 4

Early History of the Babstake family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Babstake research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1609, 1622, 1668, 1698, 1721, 1744, 1747, 1749, 1766, 1783, 1786, 1788, 1790, 1797, 1809, 1821, 1859 and 1861 are included under the topic Early Babstake History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Babstake Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Babstake has appeared include Babcock, Badcock, Babbcock, Batcock, Badcocke and many more.

Early Notables of the Babstake family

Distinguished members of the family include William Badcock (1622-1698), a London goldsmith and hilt-maker, admitted to the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths of London in September 1668. Samuel Badcock (1747-1788), theological and literary critic, was born at South Molton, Devon, 23 Feb. 1747. His parents were dissenters, and he was educated in a school at Ottery St. Mary, which was reserved for the sons of those opposed to the English church. He was trained for the dissenting ministry, and in 1766 became the pastor of a congregation at Wimborne in...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Babstake Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Babstake family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Babstake arrived in North America very early: James Babcock, who arrived in Plymouth, MA in 1623; William Badcocke, who came to St. Christopher in 1633; David Babcock, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1640.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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. 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.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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