NameCensus.

UK surname

Kok

A surname of Dutch origin meaning "cook" or referring to an occupational role involving cooking.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Kok surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 260, ranked #16,349, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Islington and Harlow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kok is 264 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25900.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

260

2016, ranked #16,349

Peak year

2013

264 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kok had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016, ranked #16,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kok surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kok surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kok 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 143 #22,317
1999 modern 160 #20,943
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 161 #20,925
2003 modern 175 #19,690
2004 modern 164 #20,609
2005 modern 192 #18,640
2006 modern 202 #18,160
2007 modern 217 #17,520
2008 modern 222 #17,442
2009 modern 225 #17,631
2010 modern 242 #17,138
2011 modern 229 #17,633
2012 modern 254 #16,328
2013 modern 264 #16,191
2014 modern 263 #16,334
2015 modern 258 #16,443
2016 modern 260 #16,349

Geography

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Where Koks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Islington, Harlow and Basingstoke and Deane. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Islington 022 Islington
3 Harlow 002 Harlow
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 015 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Basingstoke and Deane 017 Basingstoke and Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kok

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kok

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kok surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kok household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kok is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kok is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kok 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 Kok 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
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Kok

The surname KOK has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first emerged in the late 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch word "kok," meaning "cook" or "chef." The earliest known record of the surname dates back to 1587, when a man named Jan Kok was listed in the parish registers of Leiden, a city in the western Netherlands.

Over time, the KOK surname spread across the Netherlands and beyond. In the 17th century, it was commonly found in the provinces of Holland and Zeeland, where many people with this name worked as cooks or bakers in affluent households or businesses. Some variants of the spelling included Kock, Kocq, and Kocque.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the KOK surname was Hendrick Kok (1670-1735), a Dutch painter known for his landscapes and seascapes. Another was Pieter Kok (1768-1829), a Dutch naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a vice-admiral in the Royal Netherlands Navy.

As the Dutch established colonies and trading outposts around the world, the KOK name traveled with them. In the late 17th century, a man named Willem Kok (1653-1702) was among the first Dutch settlers in South Africa, where he worked as a farmer and landowner. His descendants played a role in the establishment of the Afrikaner community in that region.

In the 19th century, Cornelius Kok (1837-1919) was a prominent Afrikaner leader and politician in the Cape Colony, serving as a member of the Cape Parliament and advocating for the rights of the Afrikaner people.

Another notable figure was Willem Kok (1910-1987), a Dutch businessman who founded the multinational electronics company Philips & Co. in 1891, which later became one of the largest electronics companies in the world.

Throughout its history, the KOK surname has been associated with a wide range of professions and accomplishments, from the culinary arts and painting to politics, business, and exploration. Its Dutch origins and connection to the word "cook" have given it a distinctive and enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kok families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kok 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. Lanarkshire leads with 1 Koks recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.03x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1 16.03x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 1 Koks recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.94x.

Place Total Index
Govan 1 64.94x
Paddington London 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Flvia 1

Top occupations

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 Kok households.

Occupation Count
Cook 1

FAQ

Kok surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kok surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Kok surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kok surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016. That gives Kok a modern rank of #16,349.

What does the Kok surname mean?

A surname of Dutch origin meaning "cook" or referring to an occupational role involving cooking.

What does the Kok map show?

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