UK surname
An English surname derived from a nickname for someone who sold or delivered cokes (coal).
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Cokes surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, St Pancras and Freshwater. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cokes is 146 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.6%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
146 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cokes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cokes surname density by area, 1861 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 | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 146 | #15,628 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 42 | #33,459 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 45 | #33,511 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 46 | #33,311 |
| 2002 | modern | 38 | #34,307 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 35 | #34,982 |
| 2006 | modern | 37 | #35,074 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 38 | #35,380 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, St Pancras, Freshwater, Banstead and Branscombe. 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 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Freshwater | Hampshire |
| 4 | Banstead | Surrey |
| 5 | Branscombe | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cokes 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 Cokes, 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 Cokes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cokes 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, Cokes 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 Cokes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cokes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname COKES originated in England during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'coc', which referred to a masculine name or perhaps a nickname for a young lad. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Cok, Cokke, and Cokes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name COKES can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners in England. The entry mentions a Robert Cok from Oxfordshire. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John Cokes from Yorkshire.
The surname COKES is believed to have originated in places like Cokesford in Somerset, Cokesbourne in Wiltshire, and Cokefield in Suffolk. These locations likely contributed to the development and spread of the surname throughout England.
In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname COKES was John Cokes, a merchant and alderman from London, who lived from around 1330 to 1395. He served as the Sheriff of London in 1378 and played an influential role in the city's governance.
During the 15th century, Sir Thomas Cokes (c. 1420-1492) was a prominent English soldier and landowner. He fought in the Wars of the Roses and was knighted by King Edward IV for his military service.
In the 16th century, Sir Edward Cokes (1552-1634) was a renowned English jurist and politician. He served as Lord Chief Justice of England and is widely regarded as one of the greatest legal minds in English history.
Another notable figure was Benjamin Cokes (1670-1718), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Job.
During the 18th century, Daniel Parker Coke (1745-1825) was a prominent English Methodist minister and missionary who traveled extensively and played a significant role in spreading Methodism throughout the world.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname COKES who have left their mark on history over the centuries, contributing to the rich tapestry of this surname's legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cokes 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. Hampshire leads with 10 Cokes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 10 | 17.25x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 2.83x |
| Kent | 4 | 4.15x |
| Dorset | 2 | 10.78x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 4.71x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.79x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.80x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.30x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 2.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Freshwater in Hampshire leads with 10 Cokes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3846.15x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | 10 | 3846.15x |
| Hackney London | 5 | 31.55x |
| Deptford St Nicholas | 4 | 519.48x |
| Islington London | 2 | 7.30x |
| Winterborne Zelstone | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Astley | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 54.05x |
| Chelmsford | 1 | 104.17x |
| Hampton London | 1 | 217.39x |
| Kirkby | 1 | 714.29x |
| Wokingham | 1 | 208.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cokes 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 Cokes 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 Cokes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Agric Labourer | 2 |
| General Laborer | 2 |
| Domestic Servant Cook | 1 |
| Engineers Wife | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Rector Of Astley | 1 |
| Sempstress | 1 |
| Ticket Writer | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
| Yachtsman (Seaman) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Cokes surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Cokes a modern rank of #35,582.
An English surname derived from a nickname for someone who sold or delivered cokes (coal).
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cokes 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.