WILLCOCKS
Willcocks is a surname of English origin. It is a medieval derivative of the personal name William, itself introduced to Britain by the Normans after 1066. The name originated from the Old German elements vilga meaning “strength of mind” and helm meaning “helmet”. In the English record it appears as a compound of the Old English words wil – “will, desire” – and cocc – “cock”, literally “desired cock”. The suffix cocc is thought to have been applied as a nickname to a proud, lusty and aggressive person, qualities associated with a rooster, and later evolved into the modern forms Willcock, Wilcock and Willcocks.
The earliest surviving record of the family name is that of William Wylcock, dated 1254 in the Assizes Court Rolls of Somerset. During the reign of King Henry II the name appears repeatedly in Somerset, and in the following centuries it spread to other counties in the English Midlands.
Variants of the surname are numerous: Willcox, Wilcocks, Wilcock, Wilcocke and Willcockes, among others. In the 16th and 17th centuries the name was recorded in Essex, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Suffolk and Hampshire. No dash signs are used in the spelling, only hyphens where necessary to join words such as “Old‑English”.
One notable bearer of the name was Joseph Wilcocks (1673‑1756), who served as Bishop of Gloucester between 1721 and 1731, then as Dean of Westminster and Bishop of Rochester until his death in 1756. His prominence brought the surname to wider notice in the English clergy.
The surname has remained most common in England, particularly in the south‑eastern counties and in Devon, where branches of the family have historically held seats in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The family seat at Holme, near Exeter, is still associated with the name.
In modern times the name is found throughout the United Kingdom, with a significant concentration in England and a dispersed presence in Wales. It is also represented abroad, in countries such as the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia, reflecting the migration of medieval families during the colonial era.
The coat of arms traditionally associated with the name depicts three black cocks upon a gold shield; the motto “Amour et Verite” – “love and truth” – is said to honour the original “desired cock” element of the surname. Today the name is regarded by many descendants as a source of pride, symbolising enduring spirit and determination.
Typical given names associated with the Willcocks surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- Graham
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Co
- Eleanor
- Elizabeth
- Emily
- Gay
- Hannah
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Willcocks in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 2,151 people named Willcocks in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,945th most common surname in Britain. Around 33 in a million people in Britain are named Willcocks.
Famous people named Willcocks
- Michael Willcocks - Army general
- David Willcocks - Choral conductor, organist and composer (1919 to 2015)
- Jonathan Willcocks - Composer and conductor
- William Willcocks - Civil engineer (1852 to 1932)
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.