NameCensus.

UK surname

Cocking

A locational surname derived from various places in England named Cocking.

In the 1881 census there were 1,447 people recorded with the Cocking surname, ranking it #2,876 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,326, ranked #4,528, down from #2,876 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Illogan, Redruth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Rotherham and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cocking is 1,759 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.4%.

1881 census count

1,447

Ranked #2,876

Modern count

1,326

2016, ranked #4,528

Peak year

1911

1,759 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cocking had 1,447 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,876 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,326 in 2016, ranked #4,528.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,759 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cocking surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cocking surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cocking 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 1,088 #2,582
1861 historical 1,059 #2,653
1881 historical 1,447 #2,876
1891 historical 1,485 #2,961
1901 historical 1,651 #3,125
1911 historical 1,759 #2,794
1997 modern 1,468 #3,985
1998 modern 1,452 #4,165
1999 modern 1,461 #4,169
2000 modern 1,427 #4,228
2001 modern 1,411 #4,196
2002 modern 1,441 #4,201
2003 modern 1,409 #4,206
2004 modern 1,420 #4,176
2005 modern 1,398 #4,192
2006 modern 1,371 #4,268
2007 modern 1,389 #4,252
2008 modern 1,425 #4,205
2009 modern 1,434 #4,257
2010 modern 1,441 #4,309
2011 modern 1,444 #4,262
2012 modern 1,359 #4,407
2013 modern 1,386 #4,414
2014 modern 1,361 #4,495
2015 modern 1,351 #4,479
2016 modern 1,326 #4,528

Geography

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Where Cockings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Illogan, Redruth, London parishes, Kenwyn, Tregavethan and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Rotherham and Bristol. 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 Illogan Cornwall
2 Redruth Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
2 Rotherham 003 Rotherham
3 Rotherham 033 Rotherham
4 Bristol 053 Bristol, City of
5 Rotherham 002 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cocking

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cocking

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cocking surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cocking household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Cocking is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Cocking is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cocking falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cocking is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cocking

The surname Cocking is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "cocc," meaning a small hill or mound. This name was likely adopted by someone who lived near or on such a geographic feature.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Cocking dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "de Cokinge." This suggests that the name was in use during the 11th century in England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Coking," "Cokyng," and "Cokkynge," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time period. These spellings were often influenced by regional dialects and the personal preferences of scribes.

One notable individual with the surname Cocking was Sir Edward Cocking (1551-1625), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire in the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Sir George Cocking (1685-1756), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the War of the Austrian Succession. He commanded several ships and was eventually promoted to the rank of Admiral.

In the literary world, George Cocking (1809-1891) was an English poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry and prose works during the Victorian era.

The Cocking surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Cocking in West Sussex and Cockington in Devon. These locations likely derived their names from the same Old English word that gave rise to the surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Cocking surname was William de Cocking, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195. This document provides evidence of the name's existence in the late 12th century.

Over the centuries, the Cocking surname has been held by various notable individuals, including Thomas Cocking (1628-1687), an English clergyman and author, and Robert Cocking (1776-1837), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cocking families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cocking 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. Cornwall leads with 406 Cockings recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.32x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 406 25.32x
Yorkshire 324 2.31x
Lancashire 172 1.02x
Lincolnshire 119 5.25x
Middlesex 83 0.59x
Nottinghamshire 59 3.09x
Derbyshire 49 2.21x
Surrey 45 0.65x
Kent 25 0.52x
Devon 23 0.78x
Bedfordshire 17 2.32x
Warwickshire 17 0.48x
Gloucestershire 16 0.58x
Durham 14 0.33x
Staffordshire 14 0.29x
Norfolk 12 0.55x
Glamorgan 9 0.36x
Worcestershire 7 0.38x
Royal Navy 5 2.96x
Sussex 5 0.21x
Cheshire 4 0.13x
Lanarkshire 4 0.09x
Berkshire 3 0.28x
Essex 3 0.11x
Leicestershire 3 0.19x
Northamptonshire 3 0.23x
Hampshire 2 0.07x
Hertfordshire 2 0.20x
Northumberland 2 0.09x
Shropshire 2 0.16x
Channel Islands 1 0.24x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.49x
Monmouthshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Ives in Cornwall leads with 77 Cockings recorded in 1881 and an index of 245.38x.

Place Total Index
St Ives 77 245.38x
Calstock 36 114.47x
Illogan 32 75.37x
Huddersfield 31 15.16x
Kenwyn 29 69.16x
Poulton Barre 28 146.44x
Sheffield 26 5.82x
Camberwell 25 2.76x
Gwennap 25 82.64x
St Agnes 24 106.86x
Redruth 22 48.50x
Hulme 18 5.13x
Saddleworth 18 16.63x
Aston 17 1.73x
Camborne 17 25.73x
St Columb Minor 17 126.30x
Blackburn 16 3.58x
Rawmarsh 16 32.27x
Ecclesall Bierlow 14 4.90x
Brampton 13 41.94x
Oldham 13 2.40x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 12 9.18x
Crantock 12 718.56x
Talland 12 317.46x
Tupton 12 179.91x
Helston 11 65.99x
Lambeth 11 0.89x
Manchester 11 1.46x
North South Anston 11 179.15x
St Blazey 11 78.13x
Thornhill 11 26.86x
Market Rasen 10 78.99x
Almondbury 9 13.26x
Great Grimsby 9 6.26x
Greenwich 9 3.99x
Halifax 9 4.37x
Margam 9 32.73x
Newbold Dunston 9 42.69x
Newlyn 9 131.39x
Shepley 9 116.28x
St George Hanover Square 9 3.61x
Stoke Damerel 9 4.36x
Bowling 8 5.75x
Broughton In Salford 8 5.21x
Dalton In Huddersfield 8 25.45x
Lee 8 11.40x
Shoreditch London 8 1.30x
St Nicholas Lincoln 8 36.95x
Walkeringham 8 232.56x
Wooldale 8 33.60x
Barrow On Humber 7 53.27x
Birkdale 7 16.46x
Bradford 7 2.06x
Bristol St George 7 5.45x
Fulham London 7 3.41x
Habergham Eaves 7 4.56x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 7.75x
Hetton Le Hole 7 13.11x
Islington London 7 0.51x
Preston 7 1.56x
Redditch 7 18.67x
Sculcoates 7 3.15x
St Botolph Lincoln 7 43.00x
Westminster St John 7 4.06x
Ardwick 6 3.96x
Batley 6 4.50x
Brampton Bierlow 6 33.39x
Grantham 6 20.33x
Hockham 6 242.92x
Horncastle 6 25.67x
Kea 6 50.21x
Liverpool 6 0.59x
Nether Hallam 6 3.16x
Newton 6 4.63x
Rishton 6 30.44x
Sittingbourne 6 15.72x
St Neot 6 94.94x
Sunderland 6 8.06x
Wales 6 54.10x
West Bromwich 6 2.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 119
Elizabeth 45
Sarah 39
Eliza 35
Ann 32
Jane 29
Annie 28
Ellen 25
Emily 20
Emma 20
Alice 16
Edith 15
Hannah 14
Margaret 14
Caroline 11
Catherine 11
Martha 11
Fanny 9
Charlotte 8
Harriet 8
Kate 8
Louisa 8
Grace 7
Lucy 7
Susannah 7
Ada 6
Maria 6
Bessie 5
Elizth. 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Julia 5
Clara 4
Eleanor 4
Elizebeth 4
Laura 4
Lizzie 4
Lydia 4
Susanna 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Anna 3
Anne 3
Beatrice 3
Matilda 3
Nanny 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3
Susan 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 101
John 88
Thomas 53
George 45
James 41
Joseph 34
Richard 24
Henry 21
Charles 15
Samuel 14
Alfred 12
Edward 11
Arthur 10
Thos. 10
Robert 9
Frederick 8
Herbert 8
Wm. 8
Fred 7
Allan 6
Stephen 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
David 4
Geo. 4
Harry 4
Nicholas 4
Peter 4
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Elijah 3
Fredrick 3
Harold 3
Jas. 3
Josiah 3
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Job 2
Joel 2
Mathew 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Saml. 2
Sidney 2
Will. 2
Willie 2
Willm. 2
Wright 1

FAQ

Cocking surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cocking surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,447 people were recorded with the Cocking surname. That placed it at #2,876 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cocking surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,326 in 2016. That gives Cocking a modern rank of #4,528.

What does the Cocking surname mean?

A locational surname derived from various places in England named Cocking.

What does the Cocking map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cocking 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.