Cokson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cokson

What does the name Cokson mean?

The earliest origins of the family name Cokson date back to the Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a son of a cook. 1 Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Norman French word cok, which means cook.

"One of the few instances of the addition of the termination son to a profession or employment." 2

Early Origins of the Cokson family

The surname Cokson was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire where they were originally from Settle. 3

While there is no doubt that this is the area that the family anciently hailed from, we must look to Suffolk for the first record of the family in ancient rolls. The Curia Regis Rolls of 1208 include an entry for Hugo filius Coci. Over the ages, the "filius" name often became the suffix "son" when the use of Latin in surnames became less popular. 1

A few years later, the Assize Rolls for Northumberland included an entry for Gilbert le Fiz Kew, Fiz le Keu in 1279. and much later, Agnes Cukeson was listed in Yorkshire in 1511. 1

Early History of the Cokson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cokson research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1220, 1273, 1379, 1609, 1636, 1654, 1677, 1679, 1682, 1704, 1735 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Cokson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cokson Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Cokson include Cookson, Cuckson, Cockson, Coxon and others.

Early Notables of the Cokson family

Thomas Cookson or Coxon (fl. 1609-1636), one of the earliest English engravers, who left a large number of portraits engraved in a dry, but neatly finished manner. 4 Another Thomas Coxon (1654-1735), was an English Jesuit, a native of the county of Durham. 4 Captain John Coxon (fl. 1677-1682), was a buccaneer, one of the most famous...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cokson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cokson family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: John Cookson who settled in Virginia in 1774; Craven Cookson settled in America in 1830; Thomas Coxson settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Thomas Coxson settled in Virginia in 1637.

The Cokson Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nil desperandum
Motto Translation: Never despairing.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print