Cock

Etymology

Cock is an English surname derived from the medieval nickname cok meaning "rooster, cock." This nickname was often used as a term of endearment or familiarity, and it was commonly tacked onto given names to create diminutives or pet forms such as Hancock or Alcock. The surname Cock thus originated as a nickname for a person who was considered proud, vain, or strutting like a rooster, or who bore some other resemblance to the bird.

Variants

The surname has several variants, including Cocks and Cox. The latter, Cox, is a particularly common English surname and is often considered a variant of Cock through the addition of the genitive suffix -s (meaning "son of Cock") or through softening of the final consonant. According to Wiktionary, an alternative possible etymology for Cock is as a spelling variant of Cox itself. In some cases, the surname may also reflect a Dutch or West Flemish origin, where it evolved from de Cock, a name etymologically connected to the word cook rather than the rooster sense.

Other Languages

Cognates in other languages include Kukk in Estonian, which similarly means "rooster."

• Meaning: Rooster, cock (or possibly "cook" in Flemish/Dutch)
• Origin: Medieval nickname
• Type: Surname
• Usage Regions: England, Dutch and West Flemish areas, Estonia