Cockwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cockwell

What does the name Cockwell mean?

The name Cockwell is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was a name for someone who was a man whose wife had been unfaithful. The surname Cockwell is derived from the Old English words cukeweld and cokewold, which in turn were derived from the Old French words cucuald and cucualt, which mean cuckold.

"This variant of the surname did not last long" 1 but from this root the various variants were derived. Another source claims that this origin is not the case and the name was in fact "a corruption of the local name Cockswold." 2

Early Origins of the Cockwell family

The surname Cockwell was first found in Gloucestershire, where they seated from ancient times. The first records of the family include Ulrie Cucuold c. 1095 in Bury and William Cucuel who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221. Later, Henry Cockewald was listed as holding lands in Lancashire in 1324. 3

Later still, Cecilia Cokwald was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 1

Early History of the Cockwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cockwell research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1221, 1273, 1324, 1434, 1656 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Cockwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cockwell Spelling Variations

Cockwell has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Cockwell have been found, including Cuckold, Cuckoo, Cucuel, Cucku, Cuckle, Cokewald, Cuckow and many more.

Early Notables of the Cockwell family

More information is included under the topic Early Cockwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cockwell migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Cockwells to arrive on North American shores:

Cockwell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Cockwell, who landed in Virginia in 1622 4

Cockwell migration to Canada +

Cockwell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Cockwell, who settled in Ontario in 1871
James Cockwell, who settled in Ontario in 1871

Contemporary Notables of the name Cockwell (post 1700) +

John Richard Cockwell OBE (b. 1939), British-born Falkland Islands politician, Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly for Stanley (1997-2009)

Sources +

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)
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)