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Cooksey Family History

Cooksey Surname Meaning

English (West Midlands): habitational name from a place in Worcestershire named Cooksey from the genitive case of the Old English personal name Cucu (perhaps a byname from Old English cwicu ‘lively’).

It is derived from the combination of this personal name and the Old English word ēg which means ‘island’.

As a result, the name reflects both a personal and geographical connection.

This naming convention highlights the significance of local geography in the formation of surnames in England.

Overall, Cooksey encapsulates a rich history rooted in the Old English language and local heritage.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Cooksey family from?

You can see how Cooksey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cooksey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cooksey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 259 Cooksey families living in Staffordshire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Cooksey's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Cooksey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cooksey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Cooksey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cooksey. 24% of Cooksey men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Cooksey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cooksey were Motor Mechanic and Housewife.

View Census Data for Cooksey | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    24%
  • Colliery Hewer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%
  • Motor Mechanic
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Cooksey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 39,000 census records available for the last name Cooksey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cooksey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cooksey

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Cooksey. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Cooksey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Cooksey. For the veterans among your Cooksey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cooksey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cooksey family history

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What is the average Cooksey lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Cooksey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Cooksey in 1947 was 50, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cooksey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cooksey ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cooksey family tree

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