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What's in a Name ?

COX (Part Four)

In the preceding articles under this name it has been suggested that it can be traced to more than half-a-dozen origins. The special difficulty was that all the differing source-names have settled on the single "Cox" (or "Cocks") and that it is now well- nigh impossible to say for certain where a particular family might look for its ancestry.

Either surname signifies "the child of the man called "Cock" - But: Who was he in the first place? And how did he come by that name? Each possibilty has been looked into. First: was it an occupational name based on forms which give us, for example, "Coxswain"? Verdict: Doubtful. Then could it have been related to Gaelic words which mean "fighter"? - possible. Next, could it have anything to do with the Welsh "Coch" meaning "red-haired" and which runs alongside "Gough" - can't be ruled out.

Is it another occupational name identifiable with "Cook"? Verdict: very likely. Cases where it can be shown to have been adopted by immigrants from Europe to correspond with their foreign surnames are not particularly relevant.

The most convincing and consistent explanation yet has been that the name is based upon the old English word "cocc" which describes a low hill or a mound. Therefore "Cox" could bear the meaning: "The descendants of the folk who lived on the hill". The fact that the name is so wide spread across the land adds considerable credibility to this suggestion.

Truly it would have been very convenient to have been able to conclude further discussion at that point, but it is a verifiable fact that the personal name "Cock" (and understood as referring to the Rooster) was so widely used until the end of the 17th century that it is impossible to imagine that, it also did not generate a surname of identical spelling. Exactly why the members of numerous medieval communities chose this nick-name for so many of their neighbours could accounted for under many headings. The most obvious is that just as the bird struts across the barn- yard, flaunting its plumage, so also did countless village swank- pots! Hence, it may be noted, there also evolved an alternative surname by way of "Peacock" - recorded in Birmingham as early as 1086.

Further, the characteristic crowing at sunrise was associated with the duties of a watchman or a "knocker-up". Even in the present century references to "the ol' cockey-watchman" was part of Liverpool urchins' lingo. However it can have generated only a few surnames since the earliest reference to a watchman dates only from 1400.

Although usage of the word "cock" expanded to include all young men and boys certainly ended up as a surname in its own right, it was so very generalised that it tended to be particularised through a process of tagging-on a specific personal name. Hence "Wilcox" signifies "the youngster whose father was called William" - while doublings-up also occur, as in Cumberland (1332) "the son of the son of William" emerges as "Wilcokson". In a few cases we can guess that Godard le Cock (Stafford: 1271), Thomas le Cok (Essex: 1285) and John le Cockes (Worcester: 1327) own their names to some dandified connection - and, note, this is not necessarily the source of "Laycock" or "Leacock". Otherwise records which include only a surname without such a definite article (as above) or some illuminating preposition (i.e. "atte" - meaning "in the vicinity of-") must remain forever ambiguous.

Only in one situation can any associations be linked with the word "Cock" in the sense of the bird. And, even then only indirectly through being exhibited as an Inn sign. Tavern keepers, particularly if the occupation tended to run in the family, became heavily identified with the name of the hostelry.

As well as "Cock", surnames such as "Eagle". "Swan" and "Falcon" originate in the same way. Very often the choice of emblem for the sign was influenced by what was displayed on the coat-of-arms of some distinguished family which associated itself with the place. The Handcocks (later Castlemaine), the Aitkens and the Cockayne families all feature a Cock in their armorial bearings - but it must be left to individual families called "Cox". or "Cocks" to follow up any leads.

The distribution of the name is fairly consistent. Apart from the 500 entries in the local directories, there are 600 for Sheffield and 1000 for Birmingham. The London registry extends across 9 columns. Numbers tend to drop in Scotland although it was recorded in Dundee (1236). There are about 150 entries covering Northern Ireland.

In works of references, over 30 names are mentioned, beginning with Francis Coxe (1560) a notorious dabbler in the occult; then Leonard Cox (1572) an eminent scholar and friend of Erasmus. The latest mention is of Sir Christopher Cox (1899-1982) an educationalist.

The most celebrated bearer of the name was David Cox (1783-1859) of Birmingham. He was an artist who specialised in rural subjects which are recognised as being among the best of their kind. An American artist also bears the name name - Kenyon Cox (1856-1919). James Middleton Cox (1870-1952) was a political leader (Democrat) who did much to improve the lot of the working- class of America.

Finally, mention must he made to Richard Cox (1776-1845) of Slough (Bucks) to whom we owe that delicious dessert apple, "Cox's Orange Pippin". Note: People claiming descent should be cautious. He died, apparently. childless.

© Desmond Holden
From "The Peak Advertiser", 28th September 1998.

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