NameCensus.

UK surname

Cockett

A surname derived from the Middle English word "cocket," meaning a seal or customs stamp.

In the 1881 census there were 387 people recorded with the Cockett surname, ranking it #8,152 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 422, ranked #11,365, down from #8,152 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Maldon and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cockett is 591 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.0%.

1881 census count

387

Ranked #8,152

Modern count

422

2016, ranked #11,365

Peak year

1911

591 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cockett had 387 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,152 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016, ranked #11,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 591 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cockett surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cockett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cockett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cockett over time

The 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 294 #7,758
1861 historical 409 #6,283
1881 historical 387 #8,152
1891 historical 484 #7,621
1901 historical 588 #7,179
1911 historical 591 #6,921
1997 modern 459 #9,920
1998 modern 475 #9,982
1999 modern 471 #10,098
2000 modern 475 #10,016
2001 modern 468 #9,949
2002 modern 464 #10,181
2003 modern 466 #9,973
2004 modern 458 #10,158
2005 modern 457 #10,100
2006 modern 445 #10,319
2007 modern 444 #10,445
2008 modern 431 #10,814
2009 modern 430 #11,081
2010 modern 441 #11,087
2011 modern 437 #11,036
2012 modern 409 #11,547
2013 modern 422 #11,436
2014 modern 419 #11,592
2015 modern 427 #11,292
2016 modern 422 #11,365

Geography

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Where Cocketts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Maldon, Wyre, Burnley and Maidstone. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 001 Craven
2 Maldon 005 Maldon
3 Wyre 012 Wyre
4 Burnley 014 Burnley
5 Maidstone 011 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cockett

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cockett surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cockett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cockett, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Cockett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cockett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cockett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cockett is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cockett falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cockett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cockett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cockett

The surname Cockett is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'coc', meaning a small brook or stream. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a small watercourse or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1230, where a certain Robert Cockett is mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the 13th century.

The name Cockett is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists several individuals with this surname, suggesting that the name was well-established in that region by the 14th century.

While the surname Cockett does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, it is possible that some of the early bearers of this name were listed under different spellings or variations, such as Cokett or Cochet.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the surname Cockett. One such person was Sir William Cockett (1599-1674), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in the 17th century.

Another noteworthy figure was John Cockett (1725-1796), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Bristol, including the Bristol Old Vic theatre.

In the 19th century, John Cockett (1823-1901) was a prominent English industrialist and inventor who patented several improvements to steam engines and textile machinery.

Mary Cockett (1857-1942) was a British suffragette and women's rights activist who campaigned for women's right to vote in the early 20th century.

More recently, William Cockett (1919-2008) was a British soldier who served in World War II and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in battle.

The surname Cockett is still found today, particularly in the United Kingdom and countries with significant British ancestry, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cockett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cockett surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 63 Cocketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 63 1.67x
Sussex 48 7.54x
Lancashire 44 0.98x
Yorkshire 44 1.18x
Kent 37 2.87x
Lincolnshire 29 4.80x
Essex 26 3.49x
Surrey 23 1.25x
Norfolk 16 2.76x
Hampshire 12 1.55x
Durham 7 0.62x
Cambridgeshire 5 2.09x
Wiltshire 5 1.50x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.75x
Cumberland 4 1.23x
Gloucestershire 4 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.59x
Somerset 3 0.49x
Cheshire 2 0.24x
Hertfordshire 2 0.77x
Suffolk 2 0.44x
Warwickshire 2 0.21x
Northumberland 1 0.18x
Westmorland 1 1.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 22 Cocketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.24x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 22 7.24x
Manchester 21 10.42x
Battle 18 418.60x
Hawes 11 448.98x
Lambeth 11 3.34x
Walsoken 11 315.19x
Greenwich 10 16.64x
Horton In Bradford 10 17.12x
Southampton St Mary 10 20.55x
Bexhill 9 283.91x
Uckfield 9 324.91x
Hornsey 8 16.76x
Ingleton 8 380.95x
Croydon 7 6.86x
Maldon St Peter 7 184.21x
Rolvenden 7 419.16x
Bardney 6 333.33x
Blackburn 6 5.03x
Folkestone 6 24.02x
St Paul Lincoln 6 566.04x
Wragby 6 909.09x
Bishopwearmouth 5 5.19x
Gainsborough 5 35.14x
Glanford Brigg 5 232.56x
Little Ilford 5 387.60x
Salisbury St Thomas 5 188.68x
Sandhurst 5 328.95x
Shoreditch London 5 3.06x
West Ham 5 3.04x
Brotton 4 81.97x
Cheltenham 4 7.00x
Fulham London 4 7.31x
Hastings St Mary 4 25.25x
Islington London 4 1.09x
Newton 4 11.59x
Stoke Newington London 4 13.61x
Wanstead 4 30.65x
Wisbech St Peter 4 33.36x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.06x
Aylesbury 3 29.67x
Bingley 3 12.59x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.02x
Holy Trinity 3 3.33x
South Lynn 3 45.80x
St Cuthbert W O Upperby 3 337.08x
St George In East London 3 8.45x
St Marylebone London 3 1.49x
Withington 3 20.79x
Withypoole 3 909.09x
Woodford 3 35.55x
Birmingham 2 0.63x
Brighton 2 1.56x
Crumpsall 2 18.94x
Dunham 2 571.43x
East Tuddenham 2 338.98x
Framlingham 2 61.35x
Gateshead 2 2.38x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 42.64x
Hurdsfield 2 38.99x
Kensington London 2 0.95x
Lewisham 2 2.91x
Maidstone 2 5.21x
Streatham 2 7.14x
Westminster St James 2 5.15x
Alverstoke 1 3.57x
Birkdale 1 8.83x
Camberwell 1 0.41x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 8.02x
Goole 1 15.95x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 7.36x
March 1 12.48x
Paddington London 1 0.72x
Penketh 1 62.11x
Portsea 1 0.66x
Skircoat 1 6.78x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.50x
Stone 1 56.50x
Ticehurst 1 25.71x
Whitechapel London 1 2.69x
York St Lawrence 1 25.64x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cockett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 12
Ann 9
Emma 9
Sarah 9
Alice 8
Eliza 7
Ellen 7
Emily 7
Ada 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Jane 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Agnes 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Nora 2
Rachael 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Angela 1
Eleanor 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Fredk. 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Lidia 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Marinda 1
Therisa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cockett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 26
John 24
George 13
Charles 11
Henry 11
Thomas 10
James 7
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Adolphus 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Louis 2
Simon 2
Campbell 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Constantine 1
Daniel 1
Eamson 1
Francis 1
Franciss 1
Harrison 1
Hugh 1
Joshua 1
Lionel 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Stuart 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Cockett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cockett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 387 people were recorded with the Cockett surname. That placed it at #8,152 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cockett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016. That gives Cockett a modern rank of #11,365.

What does the Cockett surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "cocket," meaning a seal or customs stamp.

What does the Cockett map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cockett bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.