COOKE

Also recorded as Cook E

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

Cooke

Origin and Etymology

Cooke is a common surname of English origin. The name is derived from the Middle English word "cok" which means cook, and was given as an occupational surname to those who worked as cooks or chefs in medieval England. Variants of the name include Cook, Cok, and Kook.

History

The Cooke surname has ancient roots in England, dating back to the medieval period. The first instances of the name are found in records from the 11th century, with individuals identified as cooks in manors and royal households. Over time, the surname spread throughout the country as families established themselves in various regions.

One notable individual with the Cooke surname was Thomas Cooke, an English navigator and explorer who sailed with Sir Francis Drake on his circumnavigation of the globe in the 16th century. The Cooke surname can be found in many historical records, including church registers, census data, and land deeds, documenting the presence of Cooke families in different parts of England.

Modern Distribution

Today, the Cooke surname is still prevalent in England, as well as in other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Many individuals with the Cooke surname have ancestral ties to England, particularly to regions where the name originated.

Famous Individuals

  • Alistair Cooke - A British-American journalist and broadcaster known for his long-running radio program "Letter from America"
  • Sam Cooke - An American singer-songwriter and pioneer of soul music
  • Benjamin Cooke - An English composer and organist in the 18th century
  • Kathleen Cooke - A British actress and director known for her work in theater and film

Variants

Variants of the Cooke surname include Cook, Cok, and Kook. These variations may have arisen due to differences in regional accents and dialects, as well as through the process of surname evolution over centuries.

There are approximately 40,483 people named Cooke in the UK. That makes it the 183rd most common surname in Britain. Around 622 in a million people in Britain are named Cooke.

Surname type: Occupational name

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Andrew
  • Christopher
  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Richard
  • Robert
  • Stephen

Female

  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Helen
  • Julie
  • Karen
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Patricia
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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