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Show ContentsLaycock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Laycock has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in the village of Laycock in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 The surname was originally derived from the Old English words leah cocc, which refers to the meadow with the wild birds. 2

Another Laycock is a parish, in the union and hundred of Chippenham, Chippenham and Calne in Wiltshire. 3 4

Lacock is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 5 and Lacock Abbey was founded on the manorial lands by Ela, Countess of Salisbury in 1232. The name can be derived from Lacoc; or from the French, Lecocq; a personal name. 6

Early Origins of the Laycock family

The surname Laycock was first found in Laycock, now a a suburb of the town of Keighley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The first record of the family dates back to the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 where Johanna Lakkoc; Johannes de Laccok; and Thomas de Lacokke were each listed. 7

Because of the proximity to the Scottish border, records in Scotland were found as early as 1492 when William Laicok was vicar of Retre (Rattray.) Later John Lacok canon of Dunkeld, was auditor of accounts of the bishopric between 1505 and 1517. 1

Early History of the Laycock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laycock research. Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1685, 1812, 1834, 1835, 1837, 1839, 1840 and 1876 are included under the topic Early Laycock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laycock Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Laycock have been found, including Lacock, Laycock, Leacock and others.

Early Notables of the Laycock family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Thomas Laycock (1812-1876), English mental physiologist, born at Wetherby in the West Kiding of Yorkshire in 1812 and was educated at the Wesleyan academy, Woodhouse Grove, and at University College...
  • Laycock had already begun to specialise upon the relations existing between the nervous system and various psychological phenomena...
  • It procured for the author the acquaintance of Sir John Forbes, editor of the 'British and Foreign Medical and Chirurgical Review.' to which Laycock became henceforward a constant contributor...
  • Laycock was author of some three hundred articles in medical journals8...

United States Laycock migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Laycock, or a variant listed above:

Laycock Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mary Laycock, who landed in Maryland in 1674 9
Laycock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Laycock, who arrived in Morgan County, Illinois in 1838 9
  • Adam, David, Hugh, James, John, Martha, and William Laycock all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860

Australia Laycock migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Laycock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Laycock, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
  • George Laycock, English convict from Wiltshire, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
  • Mr. Edward Laycock who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 4th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. David Laycock, (b. 1818), aged 26, English convict who was convicted in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 9th May 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1848 13
  • Thomas Laycock, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Hyderabad" 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Laycock 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:

Laycock Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Laycock, (b. 1832), aged 32, British labourer travelling aboard the ship "Amoor" arriving in Lyttleton, South Island, New Zealand on 1st July 1864 15
  • Mrs. Ellen Laycock, (b. 1833), aged 31, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Amoor" arriving in Lyttleton, South Island, New Zealand on 1st July 1864 15
  • Miss Zillah Laycock, (b. 1855), aged 9, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Amoor" arriving in Lyttleton, South Island, New Zealand on 1st July 1864 15
  • Mr. William Laycock, (b. 1861), aged 3, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Amoor" arriving in Lyttleton, South Island, New Zealand on 1st July 1864 15
  • John Laycock, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ada" in 1875
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Laycock migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16
Laycock Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Robert Laycock, aged 18, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 9
  • Mr. Robert Laycock, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 17

Contemporary Notables of the name Laycock (post 1700) +

  • Gregory Laycock, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 2008 (alternate), 2012 18
  • Beatrice Laycock, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Hampshire, 1972 18
  • Jimmye Laycock (b. 1948), American college football coach at the College of William & Mary since 1980
  • Douglas Laycock, American law professor, Robert E. Scott Distinguished Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law
  • Samuel Laycock (1826-1893), English dialect poet from Intake Head, Pule Hill, Marsden, West Yorkshire who recorded in verse the vernacular of the Lancashire cotton workers
  • Craven Laycock (1866-1940), English Dean of Dartmouth College (1911 to 1934); best known as suspending Theodor Seuss Geisel from editing the Dartmouth humor magazine causing him to write under the pen name Dr. Seuss from then on
  • Professor Thomas Laycock (1812-1876), English physician and neurophysiologist who influenced John Hughlings Jackson and the psychiatrist James Crichton-Browne
  • Thomas Laycock (1786-1823), English soldier during the War of 1812 and later an explorer who travelled overland through the interior of Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's Land)
  • Stephen "Steve" Laycock (b. 1982), Canadian gold and bronze medalist curler from Yorkton, Saskatchewan
  • Major-General Sir Robert Laycock KCMG CB DSO KStJ (1907-1968), British officer, most famous for his service with the commandos during World War II
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Royce Stanley Laycock (1920-1941), Australian Stoker from South Preston, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 19
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Henry Laycock (b. 1905), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Dingle, Liverpool, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Harry Laycock, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21

The Laycock 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: Verus honor honestas
Motto Translation: Truth, honour and honesty.
  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  5. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  6. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  7. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  8. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  9. 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)
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  14. South Australian Register Wednesday 15th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Hyderabad 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hyderabad1854.shtml
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  17. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  20. 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
  21. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
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