UK surname
An English surname originating as a variation of Cook or possibly Cox.
In the 1881 census there were 40 people recorded with the Coak surname, ranking it #28,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 43, ranked #35,285, down from #28,011 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St Pancras and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coak is 316 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.5%.
1881 census count
40
Ranked #28,011
Modern count
43
2016, ranked #35,285
Peak year
1891
316 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Coak surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Coak surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 102 | #16,933 |
| 1861 | historical | 240 | #10,226 |
| 1881 | historical | 40 | #28,011 |
| 1891 | historical | 316 | #10,639 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 44 | #33,602 |
| 2001 | modern | 43 | #33,576 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 51 | #33,701 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 48 | #34,488 |
| 2008 | modern | 52 | #34,381 |
| 2009 | modern | 48 | #34,798 |
| 2010 | modern | 47 | #35,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 45 | #35,201 |
| 2015 | modern | 45 | #35,161 |
| 2016 | modern | 43 | #35,285 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St Pancras, St Marylebone, Frodingham and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Frodingham | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Coak surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coak, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Coak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Coak household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Coak is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coak is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Coak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname COAK is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cocc," meaning a cock or a male bird. The name first appeared in the region of Yorkshire in the 13th century, where it was used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a strutting or cocky manner.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, one of the earliest surviving public records in England, there is an entry for a Richard Cok in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution from its Old English roots.
The COAK surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Coak Farm in Gloucestershire and Coak Green in Lancashire. These places likely derived their names from individuals bearing the COAK surname who settled in those areas.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the COAK surname was John Coak, a landowner in Northamptonshire, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines records in 1381. These records document the transfer of land ownership and property transactions.
In the 16th century, the COAK surname gained prominence with Sir Thomas Coak (1515-1592), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the Attorney General of England and Wales from 1584 to 1592.
Another notable figure was Sir Edward Coak (1552-1634), a renowned jurist and legal scholar who served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1625 to 1634. He is credited with significant contributions to the development of English common law.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Colonel John Coak (1610-1687) was a prominent military commander who fought for the Parliamentarian forces against King Charles I. He played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.
In the realm of literature, the COAK surname is associated with the English poet and playwright Thomas Coak (1628-1694), who is best known for his satirical works and political commentary during the Restoration period.
The COAK family has also made its mark in the arts, with the English painter and engraver Edward William Coak (1808-1879) gaining recognition for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting scenes from the English countryside.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coak surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 20 Coaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.30x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 20 | 45.30x |
| Essex | 6 | 7.79x |
| Dorset | 3 | 11.72x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.65x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.58x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.50x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.26x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Madron Penzance in Cornwall leads with 20 Coaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1242.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Madron Penzance | 20 | 1242.24x |
| West Ham | 5 | 29.41x |
| Studland | 3 | 3750.00x |
| Battersea | 2 | 13.94x |
| Golborne | 2 | 333.33x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 15.90x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 8.61x |
| Chilham | 1 | 526.32x |
| Colchester St Botolph | 1 | 153.85x |
| Filey | 1 | 322.58x |
| Govan | 1 | 3.21x |
| Guston | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 4.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Coak surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Coak surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Coak households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Carpenter And Joiner | 1 |
| Clay Labourer | 1 |
| Contractor Employing 17 Men | 1 |
| Domestic Laundress | 1 |
| Draper Methodist Preacher | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| G...p & Pupil (School) | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Domestic) | 1 |
| Journeyman Butcher | 1 |
| Parlar Maid | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Shop Girl | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 40 people were recorded with the Coak surname. That placed it at #28,011 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 43 in 2016. That gives Coak a modern rank of #35,285.
An English surname originating as a variation of Cook or possibly Cox.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coak bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.