Show ContentsCogger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Cogger finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxons of England. It was given to one who worked as a sailor or master of a type of small boat called a cog in Old English. A cogger was a person who sailed such boats. 1 2

The Latin forms are derivatives of MedLat coga, cogo ‘boat’ (c. 1200, 13th MLWL), for Middle English cogge, OFr cogue ‘small ship, cock-boat’, used by Chaucer of the ships in which Jason and Hercules sailed. A cogger (c. 1450) may have been a builder of cogs but was more probably a sailor or master of the cog." 3

Early Origins of the Cogger family

The surname Cogger was first found in Lincolnshire, where the earliest entry was in the Latin form of the name, Arnaldus Coggorius who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire for 1195. A few years later, Osbert (le) Coggere was found in the Pipe Rolls for Dorset in 1195. Roger le Cogere and John le Cogger were bailiffs of Dunwich in 1218 and 1219 respectively. 3

Early History of the Cogger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cogger research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1191, 1197, 1218, 1219, 1621 and 1628 are included under the topic Early Cogger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cogger 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. Cogger has been recorded under many different variations, including Cogger, Coggere, Cogere, Coger, Coggorius, Cowger and others.

Early Notables of the Cogger family

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


United States Cogger migration to the United States +

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 Cogger or a variant listed above:

Cogger Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Cogger and his wife Elizabeth, who emigrated from Ireland to Woburn, Massachusetts in 1693
Cogger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Cogger, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1738
Cogger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Cogger, who immigrated to Detroit in 1854

New Zealand Cogger 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:

Cogger Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Cogger, aged 35, a shepherd, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
  • Mary A. Cogger, aged 33, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Cogger (post 1700) +

  • Albert B. Cogger, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1904; Circuit Judge in Michigan 27th Circuit, 1911 4
  • Harold George Cogger, Australian herpetologist
  • Trevor Cogger (b. 1961), Australian former professional rugby league player

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Thomas E Cogger (b. 1901), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Southsea, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 5


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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