Cockrele is an ancient Norman name that arrived in
England after the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The Cockrele family lived in
Gloucestershire. The family was originally from Cocquerel, near Evreux,
Normandy, and it is from that location that their name derives.
Early Origins of the Cockrele family
The surname Cockrele was first found in
Gloucestershire where Illyas de Kokerel held fiefs in 1165 from Bohun and Neumarché.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X) The
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: Geoffrey Cokerell in Norfolk; John Cokerel in Yorkshire; and Reginald Kokerel in
Cambridgeshire.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) "In 1324 Sir William Cockerell was returned from
Essex to attend a great council at Westminster."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X) The
Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list the following: Matilda Cokrell; Elias Cokrell and Alicia Cokerell.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Early History of the Cockrele family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cockrele research.
Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1305 and 1861 are included under the topic Early Cockrele History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cockrele Spelling Variations
Endless
spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Cockerell, Cockerill, Cockrill, Cockrell and others.
Early Notables of the Cockrele family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Cockrele Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Cockrele family to Ireland
Some of the Cockrele family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 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 Cockrele family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the political and religious persecution within
England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Cockrele or a variant listed above: William Cockerell who settled in Barbados in 1639; followed by Nicholas who also settled in Barbados in 1678; Thomas Cockerill settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1845..