Cookmen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Cookmen is an old Anglo-Saxon name that was given to a person who was a servant to a cook. The surname Cookmen 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 Cookmen family

The surname Cookmen 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 Cookmen family

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

Cookmen 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. Cookmen has been recorded under many different variations, including Cookman, Cockman, Cokeman and others.

Early Notables of the Cookmen 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...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cookmen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cookmen family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Cookmen or a variant listed above: Richard Cockman who sailed to Barbados in 1635; and R. Cookman sailed to Virginia in 1662.

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.