Contents [hide]

Cockman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Cockman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The name Cockman is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is a name for someone who worked as a servant to a cook. The surname Cockman is derived from the Old English word cokman, which is comprised of the components coc, which means cook, and man, which means servant. 1

Another source claims the name was derived from 'Cockman, a cockfighter.' 2

Early Origins of the Cockman family

The surname Cockman was first found in Somerset, where William Cokeman was recorded in the Assize Rolls for 1276. A few years later, Reynballus Cokeman was listed in Cornwall in 1297 and in Colchester, John Cookman was recorded in 1374. 3

Again in Somerset, we found William Cokeinan listed there, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 4

Early History of the Cockman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cockman research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1276, 1297, 1374, 1675, 1705, 1717, 1722, 1729, 1745, 1796 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Cockman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cockman Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Cockman are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Cockman include: Cookman, Cockman, Cokeman and others.

Early Notables of the Cockman family

Notables of the family at this time include

Reverend Dr Thomas Cockman, Doctor of Divinity (1675-1745), an Oxford academic and administrator. He was Master of University College, Oxford (1722) and (1729-1745), Rector at Chidingstone in Kent, in...
Thomas Cockram or Cockman of Whight Cliff, Dorset, matriculated at Oxford University in 1717, aged 19

Cockman migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Cockman or a variant listed above:

Cockman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Cockman, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 5

Cockman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jane Cockman, aged 25, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1828 aboard the ship "Sarah G." 6
Joshua Cockman, aged 14, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1832 aboard the ship "Helen" 6
Joshua Cockman, aged 40, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1832 aboard the ship "Helen" 6
Robert Cockman, aged 14, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1832 aboard the ship "Helen" 6
Ellen Cockman, aged 7, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1836 aboard the ship "Westminster" 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cockman migration to Australia +

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

Cockman Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

B. D. Cockman, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Cameronia" in 1952 7
E. Cockman, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Cameronia" in 1952 7
Geoffrey Cockman, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Cameronia" in 1952 7
Nora E. Cockman, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Cameronia" in 1952 7
Mrs. Mary Tallentire Cockman, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Esperance Bay" in 1954 7

Cockman migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 8

Cockman Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Richard Cockman, aged 20, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 aboard the ship "Falcon" 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Cockman (post 1700) +

Billy Cockman, American co-founder of The Cockman Family, a bluegrass/Southern gospel band from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, together with John Cockman Sr. on guitar, Caroline Cockman Fisher on lead vocals, John Cockman Jr. on fiddle and bass vocals, Billy Cockman on banjo and tenor vocals, David Cockman on bass and baritone vocals, and Ben Cockman on mandolin and baritone vocals
James "Jim" Cockman (1873-1947), American third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Highlanders in 1905
Percy E. Cockman, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Oregon County, 1964 9

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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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.
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
National Archives of Australia Retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html