Show ContentsCoog History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Coog comes from when its first bearer worked as a cook, a seller of cooked meats, or a keeper of an eating-house. The surname Coog is derived from the Old English word coc, which means cook. 1 2

Early Origins of the Coog family

The surname Coog 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 Coog family

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

Coog Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Coog include Cooke, Cook, Cocus and others.

Early Notables of the Coog family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Cooke (or John Cook, John Coke, 1608-1660), the first Solicitor General of the English Commonwealth and led the prosecution of Charles I; Francis Cooke (1583-1663), one of the 102 passengers on the Mayflower; Captain Henry Cooke (c.1616-1672), an English composer, actor and singer, Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and joined the Royalist cause, Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal (1660-1672); Sir William Cooke of Highnam; his son, Sir Robert Cooke (c. 1598-1643), an English politician Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire (1640) and Tewkesbury (1641-1643); his son, Edward Cooke (died 1683)...
Another 143 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coog Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Coog family to Ireland

Some of the Coog 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.

Migration of the Coog family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Coog or a variant listed above: Chas Cook who settled in Nova Scotia in 1749 with his wife, son and daughter; Christn Cook who settled in Nova Scotia with his wife, son, 2 daughters and servant in 1749.



  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  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. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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