Notes and Queries, Number 177, March 19, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 177, March 19, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
But this is too low an estimate of the class.
Having disposed of this passage, I wish now to draw the attention of your
readers who have taken part or interest in the late discussion in your
pages upon certain surnames, to the bearing which this extract, and others
expressive of the individuals there referred to, has upon that numerous
series of names ending in "cock;" about which so many, and, for these
regenerate days, some singular suggestions have been made. The discussion
was, I believe, commenced in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for May, 1837; and,
in the number for the same month in the following year, J. G. N. suggested
that many of those names might be referred to forms of "Coc, koc, le coq,
which occur in records as abbreviations of coquus, cocus--cook."
How cavalierly the suggestions thus afforded by Mr. Urban's pages were
treated by Mr. Lower, your readers will see who refer to the pages of that
gentleman's work upon _English Surnames_, indicated in the author's last
communication to you ("N. &. Q.," Vol. v., p. 509.). But their faith in the
improvement "N. & Q." has so greatly contributed to effect in such matters,
will not however let them be deterred by the terms there used from pursuing
the subject. It will be seen that my present contribution will modify the
view taken by J. G. N., but also, to a considerable extent, support it.
I am not aware that any attempt has been made to show how early these names
were used. I can refer to several instances of the names "Wilcoc" or
"Willecok," and "Badecok," two complete examples of the kind, in the
documents of the reign of Edward I.
Those of your readers who are members of the Camden Society have now before
them a copy of a document in which the first of those names occurs several
times. I refer to the small Household Roll of John of Brabant while at the
English court, which is printed in the last volume of the Camden Society's
_Miscellany_.
No one doubts that by far the greater part of the names in question were
originally corrupted forms of Christian names, with a suffix. Mr. Lower has
done good service in showing thus much. And any one who refers to the list
in the Royal Wardrobe Account of 28 Edw. I., and especially those who can
also consult other similar manuscripts, will admit that it would be quite
possible that any Christian name might have been so used; so numerous must
have been the class of persons called "cokini." I will not further trespass
upon your space with specimens of names so manufactured, as they can be
formed with ease upon the first name "Wilcoc" from "Wille le cok,"--the
contracting mark being dropped. The final letter "k" is of importance, as
distinguishing the derivative from the parent word "coquus;" from what
period, and _why_, is doubtful. That there is but little early documentary
evidence of the names in their complete state, might be attributed to the
inferior class of the individuals so designated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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