Cocus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Spain
Ireland

The name Cocus is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a cook, a seller of cooked meats, or a keeper of an eating-house. The surname Cocus is derived from the Old English word coc, which means cook. 1 2

Early Origins of the Cocus family

The surname Cocus was first found in Essex where the first found record the name was Aelfsige Coc (c.950) who is recorded in an early reference of Anglo Saxon Wills, 3 more than one hundred years before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066.

Galter Coc was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Essex and almost two hundred years later, Walter le Kuc was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1260. Continuing the quest, we found Richard Cok in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1269, Henry Coke in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1279, Ralph le Cook and Joan Cokes in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. Robert le Couk was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 and Roger le Kokes in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed John Cocus in Norfolk, Alexander Cocus in Yorkshire, Emma Coca in Cambridgeshire and Matthew Cocus in Oxfordshire. 2

Ireby in Lancashire was home to another branch of the family. "This place is written 'Irebi' in the Domesday Survey, and then comprehended three carucates of land. In the reign of James I., lived Thomas Cooke de Irebye. The family of Cooke were the former possessors of the Hall, sometimes called Fothergill Hall, and sometimes Nether Hall." 4

Early History of the Cocus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cocus research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1561, 1583, 1598, 1608, 1616, 1637, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1643, 1648, 1659, 1660, 1663, 1672, 1683, 1700, 1701, 1715, 1717, 1721, 1734, 1752, 1757, 1758, 1793, 1797, 1802, 1814 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cocus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cocus 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 Cocus 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 Cocus include Cooke, Cook, Cocus and others.

Early Notables of the Cocus family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Cooke (or John Cook, John Coke, 1608-1660), the first Solicitor General of the English Commonwealth and led the prosecution of Charles I; Francis Cooke (1583-1663), one of the 102 passengers on the Mayflower; Captain Henry Cooke (c.1616-1672), an English composer, actor and singer, Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and joined the Royalist cause, Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal (1660-1672); Sir William Cooke of Highnam; his son, Sir Robert Cooke (c. 1598-1643), an English politician Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire (1640) and Tewkesbury (1641-1643); his son, Edward Cooke (died 1683)...
Another 143 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cocus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cocus family to Ireland

Some of the Cocus family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cocus family

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 Cocus or a variant listed above: 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.

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.