Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Cockerell

      Origin

      English

      Meaning

      Derived from Cockerel, Young Rooster

      Variations

      Cockrell, Cockrill, Rockefeller
      The surname Cockerell is of English origin, derived from the word cockerel, which refers to a young rooster. This term has roots in Middle English, where cok indicated a male chicken, and the diminutive suffix erel signified youth or small size. As such, the name can denote a connection to poultry farming or may have originally been a nickname for someone who exhibited traits associated with young roosters, such as liveliness or spiritedness.

      Historically, surnames began to emerge in England around the 12th century, often reflecting occupations, geographic locations, or notable characteristics of individuals. Cockerell fits into this pattern as an occupational surname associated with aviculture. Its records can be traced back in various English documents, particularly in rural areas where agriculture played a prominent role in livelihoods. The name is akin to other avian-related surnames, indicating the importance of farming and animal husbandry in medieval society.

      In modern-day usage, Cockerell remains a relatively uncommon surname but is still present, particularly in English-speaking countries. It is also noted in various contexts, including genealogy and heritage studies. Additionally, the name has been adopted in contemporary culture, with references in literature and art. Some bearers of the name have made notable contributions in diverse fields such as science, business, and the arts, thus expanding the surname's recognition beyond its agricultural roots.

      Based on our records...

      Reachey

      Reachey

      This is the most common surname associated with Cockerell.
      Hannah

      Hannah

      This is the most common name of those married to a Cockerell.
      John

      John

      This is the most common name for a child of a Cockerell.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1713 is when there were the most people born with the first name Cockerell.

      Explore the origins of another name.