Show ContentsCocking History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Cocking family

The surname Cocking was first found in Kent where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that county.

Early History of the Cocking family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cocking research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1106, 1432, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1590, 1594, 1600, 1612, 1616, 1634, 1638, 1659, 1660, 1666, 1687 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Cocking History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cocking Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gokin, Goken, Gocken, Gockin, Gockeine, Gookin, Gookine, Gochin, Cockin, Cockine, Gocking and many more.

Early Notables of the Cocking family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Vincent Gookin (1590?-1638), English writer about the Irish nation, youngest son of John Gookin, Esq., of Ripple Court in Kent. [1] Vincent Gookin (1616?-1659), Surveyor-General of Ireland, eldest son of Sir Vincent Gookin, appears shortly after the death of his father to have disposed of his Gloucestershire property to a Dr...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cocking Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Cocking family to Ireland

Some of the Cocking family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 122 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Cocking migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cocking Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Luke Cocking, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1862 [2]
  • Margaret Cocking, aged 21, who landed in New York in 1862 [2]
  • Mary Cocking, who arrived in New York in 1862 [2]
Cocking Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Frederick Cocking, (b. 1885), aged 18, Cornish groom travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 3rd May 1903 en route to Chicago, Illinois, USA [3]
  • Mr. Thomas T. Cocking, (b. 1886), aged 18, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1904 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [3]
  • Miss Grace Cocking, (b. 1867), aged 38, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 24th June 1905 en route to New Boston, Michigan, USA [3]
  • Mrs. Lillie Cocking, (b. 1883), aged 22, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Globe, Arizona, USA [3]
  • Mr. Ralph Cocking, (b. 1868), aged 37, Cornish carpenter travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th April 1905 en route to Oglesby, Illinois, USA [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Cocking migration to Australia +

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

Cocking Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Cocking, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Britannia" in 1846 [4]
  • Thomas Cocking, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Theresa" in 1847 [5]
  • Catherine Cocking, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1848 [6]
  • John Cocking, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1848 [6]
  • Joseph Cocking, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1848 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Cocking 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:

Cocking Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Cocking, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Cocking, (b. 1834), aged 28, Cornish settler departing on 29th September 1862 aboard the ship "Mermaid" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 [7]
  • Mr. Thomas Cocking, (b. 1839), aged 23, Cornish farm labourer departing on 29th September 1862 aboard the ship "Mermaid" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 [7]
  • Miss Elizabeth Cocking, (b. 1834), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 [8]
  • Mr. Thomas Cocking, (b. 1839), aged 23, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cocking (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Cocking (1845-1914), English merchant in Yokohama, founder of Cocking & Co which specialized in trading Japanese curios, art and antiques, founder of the Yokohama Cooperative Electric Light Company
  • Robert Cocking (1776-1837), British watercolour artist who died in the first parachute accident


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. 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)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITANNIA 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Britannia.htm
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THERESA 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Theresa.htm
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE - 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Constance.htm
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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