Cock Family History

From Middle English cok ‘cook’, a possible variant of Cook if shortening of the vowel of Old English cōc ‘cook’ occurred before it developed to Middle English coke, couk, cook. In examples of Coc and Cok below, the vowel may be short or long, so they could alternatively be cited under Cook.

From Middle English cok (Old English and Old French coc) ‘male bird, cock’ (especially the male of the domestic fowl), perhaps used humorously of a leader or chief man in a social group, though this sense is not recorded before the 16th century in OED. Some of the following early bearers may alternatively belong under other senses below.

Occasionally from the Old French and Middle English personal name Cok, of uncertain etymology but possibly derived from the word in (1, ii). Compare the diminutive form Cocklin of French origin. There seems to have been an Old English personal name *Cocc(a) which may also have contributed to the Middle English name; compare Cocking. For potential early bearers of the surname, see examples without the definite article in (1) above.

From Middle English cok (Old English cocc) ‘hillock’, denoting someone who lived by a hillock or mound. From Middle English cok, cok(k)e ‘ship's boat’, and so perhaps used for a boatman. Compare Barge.

For someone who lived or worked at a house or inn known as ‘The Cock’, from a sign depicting a haycock or mound, a boat, or a cock bird (see the senses above).