Surname Cooke - Meaning and Origin
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Cooke: What does the surname Cooke mean?
The surname Cooke is of English origin and it is an occupational name, derived from the Old English term "coc," which means cook. It was often given to individuals who worked as a cook in a noble or royal household during medieval times. At a time when professions were commonly passed down from one generation to the next, the surname Cooke could often indicate that the family came from a long line of professional cooks. Its spelling variations include Cook, Cocks, Cox, among others. Therefore, the last name Cooke, like many last names, represents a snapshot of an ancestor's life, providing a link to their occupation and societal role in the distant past.
Order DNA origin analysisCooke: Where does the name Cooke come from?
The surname Cooke is of English origin and it is derived from the occupation of a cook. It comes from the Old English term "coc," meaning cook, and was used to denote someone who worked as a cook in a noble house or monastery. This name started being used from in the Middle Ages and the first known recording of the family name, according to official documents, is that of Robert Cook, which was dated 1176, in the "Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire," during the reign of King Henry II.
In terms of its distribution today, Cooke is a common surname in English-speaking countries, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States. Inside the UK, it is most common in northern England, specifically in Yorkshire. In the United States, it's more widespread, but with a higher concentration in the states of Texas, California, and North Carolina.
Variations of the surname Cooke
The surname Cooke is of English origin and has multiple variations in spelling and other surnames that share the same roots. The most direct alternative spellings include Cook, Coke, and Cocke. Both Cook and Cooke are derived from the Old English 'coc', meaning cook, and were used to describe someone who worked as a cook or in the food preparation industry. Therefore, it is an occupational surname.
It's also worth noting that the surname Cooke may also have been originally presented in regional dialects or accents, therefore creating various versions. Some of these spellings taken from genealogical records include Coock, Cocks, Cok, Cock, Kook, Cuke, and Koke.
Surnames that are related or of similar origin mainly also derive from the occupation of cooking, such as Baker, Brewer, or Fisher.
Furthermore, in languages other than English, the surname's variants correspond to the word "cook" in those languages, for instance, Koch in German, Cuoco in Italian, or Le Cuoc in French. However, these surnames, although similar in meaning, have independent origin histories and are not direct derivatives of Cooke.
Famous people with the name Cooke
- Alastair Cooke: A British-American journalist, television personality, and radio broadcaster, known for hosting "Masterpiece Theatre".
- Sam Cooke: An influential soul singer and songwriter, known for hits like "You Send Me", "A Change Is Gonna Come", and "Cupid".
- Peter Cooke: An English actor, satirist, writer, and comedian.
- Alistair Cooke (Baron Lexden): A British conservative political historian.
- Robin Cooke: A New Zealand judge who served as the 11th Chief Justice of New Zealand.
- Amos Starr Cooke: An early American missionary to Hawaii.
- Charles Cooke: An English footballer who played for Chelsea Football Club in the 1960s and '70s.
- Deryck Cooke: British musicologist and composer, noted for his work on the music of Gustav Mahler.
- John Byrne Cooke: American author and musician, and the son of Alistair Cooke.
- Tom Cooke: A Canadian politician who served as a Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.
- Edmund Vance Cooke: An American author and poet, known for his collection of poems "Chronicles of the Little Tot".
- Janet Cooke: A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was later found to have fabricated her winning article.
- Stephen Cooke: An American artist known for his landscape paintings.