Lowcock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The name Lowcock first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having 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 and Lacock Abbey was founded on the manorial lands by Ela, Countess of Salisbury in 1232.

Early Origins of the Lowcock family

The surname Lowcock 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. [5]

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 Lowcock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lowcock research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1685 and 1648 are included under the topic Early Lowcock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lowcock Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Lowcock has appeared include Lacock, Laycock, Leacock and others.

Early Notables of the Lowcock family (pre 1700)

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

Lowcock migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Lowcock arrived in North America very early:

Lowcock Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Harold Lowcock, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Fort Hamilton" from Hamilton, Bermuda [6]
Esther Ellen Lowcock, aged 39, originally from St. Helens, England, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Cedric" from Liverpool, England [7]
Samuel Lowcock, aged 39, originally from St. Helens, England, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Cedric" from Liverpool, England [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Lowcock (post 1700) +

Henry W. Lowcock (1837-1901), English businessman in Hong Kong, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in 1872 and (1875-1879)
Sir Mark Andrew Lowcock KCB (b. 1962), British civil servant, Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development (2011-)

The Lowcock 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.

Citations +

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)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6H1-3JM : 6 December 2014), Harold Lowcock, 12 Apr 1920; citing departure port Hamilton, Bermuda, arrival port New York, ship name Fort Hamilton, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
"New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6JQ-Y23 : 6 December 2014), Esther Ellen Lowcock, 09 May 1921; citing departure port Liverpool, arrival port New York, ship name Cedric, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
"New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6K4-QWR : 6 December 2014), Samuel Lowcock, 29 Jan 1921; citing departure port Liverpool, arrival port New York, ship name Cedric, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).