Cook History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The saga of the name Cook follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a cook, a seller of cooked meats, or a keeper of an eating-house. The surname Cook is derived from the Old English word coc, which means cook. 1 2

Early Origins of the Cook family

The surname Cook 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 Cook family

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

Cook Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cook were recorded, including Cooke, Cook, Cocus and others.

Early Notables of the Cook family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Cook World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cook is the 56th most popular surname with an estimated 298,440 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Cook is ranked the 104th most popular surname with an estimated 27,420 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Cook is the 141st popular surname with an estimated 269 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Cook as 52nd with 38,232 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Cook as 71st with 4,739 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Cook as 55th with 75,135 people. 10

Migration of the Cook family to Ireland

Some of the Cook 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.


Cook migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Cook family emigrate to North America:

Cook Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Cook Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Cook Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Cook Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Cook migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cook Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Cook Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Cook migration to Australia +

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

Cook Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Cook Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Cook 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:

Cook Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Cook (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Cook +
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