Surname Okes - Meaning and Origin
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Okes: What does the surname Okes mean?
The surname Okes is of Anglo-Saxon origin and primarily associated with England and Ireland. It is considered a topographical surname, given to individuals based on the geographical location of their residence. The name Okes is derived from pre 7th century Old English "ac" or Middle English "oke", meaning "oak". It was often assigned to those living near a notable oak tree or in an oak-covered area. Overtime, "oak" evolved to "oke" and then "okes". The plural "s" was added under the influence of the genitive "s" denoting possession or son of. Hence, the surname can also imply the "descendant or son of the one who lives near the oaks". Such surnames were created as identifiers in small communities where there was a need to distinguish between various families with the same given names.
Please note, meanings of surnames can vary greatly and it might have different connotations in other cultures and languages.
Order DNA origin analysisOkes: Where does the name Okes come from?
The last name Okes is often found in the United Kingdom and Southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia. In the UK, the last name Okes is mainly concentrated in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. In the United States, it is also a fairly popular name, particularly in Pennsylvania and Missouri.
The roots of the last name Okes can be traced back to Old English origins, meaning that it was first used in Britain by the ancient Anglo-Saxons. It is thought to be derived from the ancient personal name 'Ocka', with the added suffix 'es'. Over time, the name Okes was adopted and used by families as a last name.
Today, the name Okes is still popular in the United Kingdom and other areas of the world. In addition to being found in the United States, it is also common in Canada, Australia, and other countries across the globe. In some cases, the name has been altered over time and can now be found spelled as "Oakes" instead of "Okes".
Variations of the surname Okes
The surname Okes is a variation of the surname Akes, Oxe, or Oake(s). It is thought to be derived from the Old English word for oak, "aec", and is believed to indicate an ancestor who lived near an oak tree. Another possible meaning is a nickname for someone strong, from the Old English word "eaxe", which means courageous. Okes has also appeared as Ukes, Oakes, Aches, Uxa, Uckes, Oxes, Acker, Acks, Oecks, Aum, Eckes, Ahe, Eixa, Ehsha, Uke, Uksa, Oux, and Ahus.
The first recorded spelling of the surname is from 1296, in "The Yorkshire Poll Tax Records". The earliest American records date back to the 1660s, when Henry Okes was recorded in South Carolina. Variants of the name can now be found in counties throughout the United Kingdom and the United States.
Other spellings include Oak, Ohks, Ockes, Ohce, Aheese, Aikes, Aahees, Aakees, Ucks, Ocke, Aecs, Oeckes, Uckes, Ocece, Aakse, Uxsa, Eekse, Uka, Wox, Ake, Okce, Oka, and Uks. Related surnames include Ackes, Axes, Oaks, Wacks, Ochs, and Okke.
Famous people with the name Okes
- Justin Okes: professional soccer player from New Zealand
- Collin Okes: professional ice hockey player from Canada
- Erich Okes: award-winning singer-songwriter from the US
- Adam Okes: award-winning Air and Space Force historian from the US
- Robert Okes: British mathematician
- Anne Okes: British scientist
- John Okes: Canadian politician
- Mary Okes: American artist and philosopher
- Katherine Okes: retired English professor
- Harry Okes: Canadian curler