LOCKE
Locke is a surname of English origin, predominantly found throughout the British Isles.
Its etymology traces back to the Old English word loc, which meant an enclosure or fence. Consequently, the name could have been used as a topographic identifier for a person who lived near a lock, gate or other barrier that could be closed and opened. In a similar fashion, it may have referred to a lock‑keeper or a locksmith, as the term was understood in early medieval English as a fastening or weapon of restraint.
Another recognised derivation associates the name with hairstyle. The same root, loc, was also employed in Old English to describe a curl or a lock of hair. Thus, a person with distinctive curly or tangled hair could have acquired the surname as a nickname.
Historical evidence for the name dates from the early twelfth century. The earliest recorded spelling, Leuric Loc, appears in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire, dated 1130, during the reign of King Henry the First, known as “The Lion of Justice”. Documents from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries record a number of individuals, including William de Lok of Berkshire (1230), William Lock of Oxfordshire (1273) and Robert Atteloke of Cambridgeshire (1300).
Church registers of London provide further testimony: the christening of Joan, daughter of Mychaell Lock, at St. Giles' Cripplegate on 25 April 1568, and the marriage of Robert Lock and Mary Baker at St. Dunstan’s, Stepney on 22 October 1572. The name also appears in the context of early emigration: William Lock departed London aboard the “Planter” in March 1634 bound for the Virginia Colony of New England.
Thus, the surname Locke encapsulates varied semantic strands—topographical, occupational and personal—rooted firmly in the linguistic and social history of England, and continues to be borne by individuals across the United Kingdom and beyond.
Typical given names associated with the Locke surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Michael
- Peter
- Robert
- Simon
- Stephen
Female
- Amanda
- Angela
- Carol
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Jane
- Jean
- Joanne
- Julie
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Lock
- Loc
- Locey
- Loch
- Locken
- Loack
- Loake
- Loak
- Loakes
- Laake
- Lac
- Laca
- Lacau
- Lack
- Lacka
- Lacke
- Lacki
- Lackie
- Lacko
- Laco
- Laeeq
- Lag
- Laga
- Lagae
- Lagg
- Lagge
- Laggie
- Lagha
- Laghaei
- Laghi
- Lago
- Lagoa
- Lagoe
- Lagou
- Lagu
- Lagua
- Lague
- Laguea
- Laica
- Laig
- Laigh
- Laik
- Laike
- Laikie
- Laiq
- Lak
- Laka
- Lake
- Lakee
- Laki
- Lakie
- Lakio
- Lakka
- Lako
- Laqua
- Laque
- Lauck
- Laug
- Lauga
- Laugh
- Lauk
- Lauko
- Laygo
- Layke
- Leack
- Leackie
- Leag
- Leagh
- Leago
- Leagoe
- League
- Leak
- Leake
- Leakie
- Leaok
- Lec
- Leca
- Lecca
- Leck
- Lecka
- Lecke
- Lecki
- Leckie
- Lecko
- Leco
- Lecue
- Leeck
- Leek
- Leeke
- Leekie
- Leg
- Lega
- Legg
- Legge
- Leggie
- Leggio
- Leggo
- Leggoe
- Legh
- Legha
- Lego
- Legoe
- Legue
- Leick
- Leig
- Leigh
- Leighe
- Lek
- Leka
- Lekau
- Leke
- Leki
- Lekie
- Lekka
- Leko
- Leogue
- Leoick
- Leuca
- Leuck
- Leuk
- Lewko
- Leyk
- Lic
- Lica
- Lick
- Licka
- Lickie
- Licko
- Lico
- Lieck
- Liegh
- Lieghio
- Lig
- Liga
- Ligg
- Ligge
- Ligh
- Lighe
- Ligo
- Ligue
- Lik
- Lika
- Like
- Liko
- Liku
- Liok
- Loag
- Loague
- Loaks
- Lockead
- Lockell
- Locker
- Lockes
- Locket
- Lockett
- Lockey
- Lockie
- Lockis
- Locko
- Locks
- Locky
- Loco
- Locs
- Locy
- Log
- Loga
- Logg
- Logge
- Logghe
- Loggia
- Loggie
- Logh
- Logo
- Logue
- Loic
- Loik
- Lok
- Loka
- Loke
- Lokes
- Lokey
- Lokie
- Lokke
- Lokko
- Loko
- Loks
- Loku
- Loky
- Lokye
- Loock
- Loog
- Look
- Looke
- Loque
- Louca
- Louck
- Loug
- Lough
- Loughe
- Lougue
- Louk
- Louka
- Louke
- Louki
- Lowke
- Lox
- Luc
- Luca
- Lucca
- Luck
- Lucka
- Lucke
- Lucki
- Luckie
- Lucko
- Lueck
- Luecke
- Lueke
- Lug
- Luga
- Lugg
- Lugge
- Luggie
- Lugh
- Lugo
- Lugue
- Luick
- Luig
- Luiggi
- Luik
- Luk
- Luka
- Lukau
- Luke
- Lukie
- Lukk
- Lukka
- Luko
- Luque
- Luyk
- Lycke
- Lygo
- Lygoe
- Lyke
- Lykke
- Lyko
- Lykou
- Lylyk
- Whylock
- Wlock
- Wloka
- Locsei
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Locke in...
Braille
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Locke are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Hobnob.
There are approximately 8,326 people named Locke in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,138th most common surname in Britain. Around 128 in a million people in Britain are named Locke.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Locke
- John Locke - Philosopher and physician (1632 to 1704)
- Ollie Locke - Television personality
- Harry Locke - Actor (1913 to 1987)
- Philip Locke - Actor (1928 to 2004)
- Rob Locke - Actor, TV Host, Voice-Over Artist Rob Locke
- Michael Locke - Stuntman
- Gary Locke - Scottish football player
- Hew Locke - Sculptor and contemporary visual artist of Guyanese and British parentage
- William John Locke - Writer (1863 to 1930)
- Joseph Locke - Civil engineer (1805 to 1860)
- Adam Locke - Football player
- Drew Locke - Rugby player
- Kelvin Locke - Cricketer
- Wayne Locke - Retired professional darts player
- Sam Locke - Scottish golfer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.