UK surname
A surname referring to a keeper of cocks or gamecocks.
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Cocke surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cocke is 234 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.8%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
234 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cocke surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cocke surname density by area, 1891 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 | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 234 | #10,463 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 62 | #27,252 |
| 1911 | historical | 72 | #25,642 |
| 1997 | modern | 31 | #34,582 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 39 | #34,066 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 32 | #34,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 30 | #35,046 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 37 | #34,815 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 34 | #35,730 |
| 2011 | modern | 35 | #35,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 33 | #35,767 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, St Pancras, Ealing, Chiswick and Manchester. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Dover St James, Dover St Mary | Kent |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cocke 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 Cocke, 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 Cocke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cocke 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, Cocke 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 Cocke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cocke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cocke is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cocc," which means a rooster or cock. It is believed to have emerged as a surname in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, likely used as a nickname for someone who had a strutting or cocky demeanor or bearing, similar to a rooster.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several references to individuals with the name Coc or Cok, which are believed to be early variations or spellings of the surname Cocke. These entries indicate that the name was already in use in various parts of England by the late 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cocke dates back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a document from 1273, there is a mention of a William Cok. Additionally, in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, a John Cocke is listed.
In the 14th century, the surname Cocke appeared in various historical records, including the Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, which documented individuals who held lands or properties. One notable entry is for a William Cocke from Yorkshire, who was listed in 1349.
Over the centuries, the surname Cocke has been associated with several notable individuals, including:
1. Sir John Cocke (c. 1615-1692), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Middlesex in the 17th century.
2. William Cocke (c. 1677-1751), a prominent figure in the colony of Virginia, USA, who served as the Secretary of the Colony and was a member of the Governor's Council.
3. John Hartwell Cocke (1780-1866), an American planter and businessman from Virginia, known for his involvement in the development of the James River and Kanawha Canal.
4. Philip St. George Cocke (1809-1898), an American military officer who served as a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
5. Thomas Munford Cocke (1834-1899), an American politician from Tennessee, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives in the late 19th century.
Additionally, there are several place names in England that are derived from or associated with the surname Cocke, such as Cockfield in Suffolk and Cockerton in County Durham, further indicating the long-standing presence of the name in various regions of the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cocke 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Cockes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 2.76x |
| Surrey | 8 | 3.24x |
| Kent | 7 | 4.05x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 2.34x |
| Angus | 3 | 6.39x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 4.86x |
| Essex | 2 | 2.00x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.92x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.34x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.40x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 3.26x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.86x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.17x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.23x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 7 Cockes recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.81x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea London | 7 | 45.81x |
| Wandsworth | 7 | 143.44x |
| Hampstead London | 6 | 75.95x |
| Wolverhampton | 4 | 30.40x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 3 | 179.64x |
| Little Wratting | 3 | 6000.00x |
| Monifieth | 3 | 180.72x |
| Southampton St Michael | 2 | 588.24x |
| Steeple Bumpstead | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Waddington | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Beckenham | 1 | 44.25x |
| Clapham | 1 | 15.77x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 7.49x |
| Didsbury | 1 | 125.00x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 29.76x |
| Gosberton | 1 | 277.78x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 79.37x |
| Hougham | 1 | 97.09x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.55x |
| Langley Marish | 1 | 263.16x |
| Southam | 1 | 322.58x |
| Ticehurst | 1 | 192.31x |
| Watford | 1 | 36.90x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cocke 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 Cocke 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 Cocke households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Assurance Clerk | 3 |
| Actor | 1 |
| Actress | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Steward | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Licensed Victualler | 1 |
| Living In Alms House | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Reader To Waddington Hospital | 1 |
| Retired Custom Officer | 1 |
| Salesman Wallpapers Paper Stainer | 1 |
| Ships Steward | 1 |
| Theological Student | 1 |
| Under Butler Assistant | 1 |
| Wife Of Reader | 1 |
| Wollen Merchant (Cloth Manuf) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Cocke surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Cocke a modern rank of #35,582.
A surname referring to a keeper of cocks or gamecocks.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cocke 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.