Meaning & History
Dutch Surname
Kok is a Dutch occupational surname, derived from the Middle Dutch word kok, meaning “cook.” It is the Dutch cognate of the English surname Cook. The name was used for someone who worked as a cook, particularly in a professional kitchen or household. The modern Dutch variants Kock and De Kock share the same origin.
Root and Cognates
The root of the name is Cook, which comes from Old English coc and ultimately from Latin coquus, meaning “cook.” The Dutch term kok entered the language via the same Latin root. The name belongs to a European family of occupational surnames related to cooking, such as the German Koch and the Flemish De Cock. Alternative Dutch forms include Kokke and Kokx.
Distribution
In the Netherlands, Kok is a common surname, particularly in the northern provinces such as Friesland and Groningen. According to the 2010 United States Census, Kok is the 17,398th most frequent surname in the U.S., held by 1,622 individuals. As of that census, the surname was predominantly found among White (63.38%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (32.31%) populations. The latter group largely includes people of Chinese descent, for whom Kok is a variant of the Chinese surname Guo.
Notable Bearers
Notable individuals with the surname Kok include:
- Wim Kok (1938–2018), former Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1994 to 2002, a prominent Dutch politician and trade unionist.
Key Facts
- Meaning: Cook (occupational)
- Origin: Dutch, from Middle Dutch kok
- Famous Bearers: Wim Kok, former Dutch Prime Minister
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Kok