Cook History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The saga of the name Cook follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a cook, a seller of cooked meats, or a keeper of an eating-house. The surname Cook is derived from the Old English word coc, which means cook. [1]  [2]

Early Origins of the Cook family

The surname Cook was first found in Essex where the first found record the name was Aelfsige Coc (c.950) who is recorded in an early reference of Anglo Saxon Wills, [3] more than one hundred years before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066. 

Galter Coc was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Essex and almost two hundred years later, Walter le Kuc was listed in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1260. Continuing the quest, we found Richard Cok in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1269, Henry Coke in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1279, Ralph le Cook and Joan Cokes in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. Robert le Couk was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 and Roger le Kokes in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332. [3]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed John Cocus in Norfolk, Alexander Cocus in Yorkshire, Emma Coca in Cambridgeshire and Matthew Cocus in Oxfordshire. [2]

Ireby in Lancashire was home to another branch of the family. “This place is written ‘Irebi’ in the Domesday Survey, and then comprehended three carucates of land. In the reign of James I., lived Thomas Cooke de Irebye. The family of Cooke were the former possessors of the Hall, sometimes called Fothergill Hall, and sometimes Nether Hall.” [4]

Early History of the Cook family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cook research.

Cook Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cook were recorded, including Cooke, Cook, Cocus and others.

Early Notables of the Cook family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Cooke (or John Cook, John Coke, 1608-1660), the first Solicitor General of the English Commonwealth and led the prosecution of Charles I; Francis Cooke (1583-1663), one of the 102 passengers on the Mayflower; Captain Henry Cooke (c.1616-1672), an English composer, actor and singer, Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and joined the Royalist cause, Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal (1660-1672); Sir William Cooke of Highnam; his son, Sir Robert Cooke (c. 1598-1643), an English politician Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire (1640) and Tewkesbury (1641-1643); his son, Edward Cooke (died 1683).

Cook World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cook is the 56^th most popular surname with an estimated 298,440 people with that name. [5] However, in Canada, the name Cook is ranked the 104^thmost popular surname with an estimated 27,420 people with that name. [6] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Cook is the 141^st popular surname with an estimated 269 people with that name. [7] Australia ranks Cook as 52^nd with 38,232 people. [8] New Zealand ranks Cook as 71^st with 4,739 people. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Cook as 55^th with 75,135 people. [10]

 Migration of the Cook family to Ireland

Some of the Cook family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Cook migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the “open frontiers” of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Cook family emigrate to North America: 

Cook Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Francis Cook, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 [11]
• James Cook who settled in Maine in 1622
• Mark Cook, who settled in Maine in 1622
• Hester Cook, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 [11]
• Aaron Cook, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship “Mary & John” [11]

Cook Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Abraham Cook, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [11]
• Libby Cook, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 [11]
• Tho Cook, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [11]
• Cha Cook, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [11]
• Fra Cook, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [11]

Cook Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Jos Cook, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 [11]
• Daniel Cook, who arrived in America in 1818 [11]
• Mr. Cook, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1821 [11]
• Jamison Cook, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1828 [11]
• Otto Cook, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1828 [11]

Cook Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mr. William J. Cook, (b. 1876), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship “St Louis” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th May 1900 en route to Biwabik, Minnesota, USA [12]
• Mr. Archibald Cook, (b. 1883), aged 22, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship “St Louis” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th October 1905 en route to Bingham, Maine, USA [12]
• Melbourne Cook, who landed in Mississippi in 1906 [11]

 Cook migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Cook Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Charles Cook who settled in Nova Scotia in 1749 with his wife, son and daughter
• Christn Cook who settled in Nova Scotia with his wife, son, 2 daughters and servant in 1749
• Capt Cook, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
• Charles Cook, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
• Christn Cook, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749

Cook Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Azel Cook, who landed in Canada in 1828
• Joseph Cook, who landed in Canada in 1831
• Kittyann Cook, aged 8, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
• James Cook, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
• James Cook, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833

 Cook migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Cook Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Miss Elizabeth Cook, (b. 1754), aged 33, English convict who was convicted in England for life for stealing, transported aboard the “Charlotte” on 13th May 1787, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1847, listed as transferred to the Friendship at Rio de Janeiro [13]
• Mr. William Cook, English convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for life, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[14]

Cook Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Elizabeth Cook, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Broxbournebury” in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
• Mr. William Cook, English convict who was convicted in St Albans, Hertfordshire, Englandfor 7 years, transported aboard the “Fanny” on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [16]
• Mr. William Cook, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Baring” in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
• Mr. John Cook, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the “Fame” on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
• Mr. Thomas Cook, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Batavia” in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]

 Cook migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Cook Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Charles John Cook, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
• W Cook, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
• C J R Cook, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Mary Ann
• Edmond Cook, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Clifford
• H Cook, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Adelaide [20]

Contemporary Notables of the name Cook (post 1700) +

• James Cook (1728-1779), born in Yorkshire, the famous navigator who explored the St. Lawrence, the shores of Newfoundland, circumnavigated the globe charting New Zealand, Australia and explored much of the Pacific and Southern Ocean. His last voyage was to Hawaii in 1779 where he was killed by the natives
• Mildred Frances “Carole” Cook (1924-2023), professionally known as Carole Cook, an American actress, active in on screen and stage, best known for appearances on The Lucy Show and Here’s Lucy
• Jeffrey Alan “Jeff” Cook (1949-2022), American country music artist, member of the band Alabama, inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019
• James Richard “Rick” Cook (1944-2022), American author of novels and stories
• William Randall Cook (1963-2021), American computer scientist, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin
• Wade Bruce Cook (1949-2021), American author and self-proclaimed financial guru who claimed to have started his success when he was a taxi driver in the 1970s
• Arthur Edwin “Art” Cook (1928-2021), American sports shooter and Olympic gold medalist in the 50 metre rifle prone event at the 1948 Summer Olympics
• Bobby Lee Cook (1927-2021), American defense attorney from Summerville, Georgia, in Chattooga County
• Barbara Cook (1927-2017), American Tony award winning singer and actress, known for her work on The Music Man, Sondheim on Sondheim and Candide
• Julian Abele Cook Jr. (1930-2017), American jurist, Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (1978-1996)