Boocock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Boocock is a name whose history dates far back into the mists of early British times to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is a name for a proud or gaudy person. The surname Boocock is derived from the various Old English words pecok, pacok, pocok, pehen, and pohen, which all mean peacock. 1

Early Origins of the Boocock family

The surname Boocock 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 Boocock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boocock 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 Boocock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boocock Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Boocock has been recorded under many different variations, including Pocock, Pococke and others.

Early Notables of the Boocock 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 Streynsham Master (1682-1724), in the " Superbe " in 1718. He became lieutenant in April 1725, commander in 1733, and post-captain in 1738. After serving in the West Indies he was sent to the East Indies in 1754 as captain of the " Cumberland" (58) with Rear-Admiral Charles...
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boocock Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boocock migration to Australia +

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

Boocock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Boocock, English convict who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. Robert Boocock, English convict who was convicted in Preston, Lancashire, England for 15 years transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8

Boocock 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:

Boocock Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Boocock, aged 37, a bootmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1878
Hannah Boocock, aged 36, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1878
Mary Boocock, aged 11, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1878
George Boocock, aged 9, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Boocock (post 1700) +

Paul Boocock (b. 1964), American actor and writer based in New York City, known for his work on The Venture Bros. (2003), Henry Fool (1997) and Arachnoquake (2012)
Nigel Boocock (1937-2015), English former Speedway rider who competed in eight Speedway World Championship finals from 1955 to 1980, South Australian Champion (1969), brother of Eric Boocock
Irvine Boocock (b. 1890), English footballer who played from 1910 to 1922 for Bradford City
Eric Boocock (b. 1945), English former Speedway rider who appeared in three Speedway World Championship finals from 1961 to 1983, British Champion (1974), brother of Nigel Boocock
Justin Boocock (b. 1975), Australian slalom canoer who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics

The Boocock 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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forfarshire