Find out how popular the last name Coker is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Coker.

Coker, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Coker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Coker in America

Coker is the 1541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Coker surname appeared 23,348 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Coker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Coker to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Coker

The surname Coker is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval times. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cocor," which referred to a maker or seller of coarse woolen cloth known as "cokers." This occupation played a significant role in the textile industry during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Coker can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation conducted by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The name appeared in various spellings, including Cocor and Cocors, in several counties across England.

In the 12th century, records show the presence of a Coker family in the county of Wiltshire. A notable member of this family was John Coker, who lived in the village of Bishopstone during the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272). John Coker was a prosperous landowner and played a role in the local governance of his community.

The surname Coker also has connections to place names in England. For example, the village of Coker in Somerset was once known as "Cokers Aluritone" in the 13th century, suggesting a link between the surname and the local area. Additionally, the village of Coker's Hill in Hampshire may have derived its name from the Coker family who resided there in the Middle Ages.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Coker. One such figure was John Coker (c. 1475 - c. 1525), a prominent English scholar and clergyman who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in the early 16th century. Another notable Coker was Sir Robert Coker (1588-1659), a wealthy merchant and member of the Virginia Company, who played a significant role in the early colonization efforts of the British in North America.

In the literary world, Francis William Coker (1857-1933) was an English poet and author who wrote several works, including "The Wanderings of a Windmill" and "The Shepherdess and Other Poems." Additionally, Sir William Coker (1842-1920), a British civil servant and colonial administrator, served as the Governor of Western Australia from 1902 to 1909.

The Coker surname has also been associated with various professions and fields over the centuries. For instance, John Coker (1670-1718) was an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, while Thomas Coker (1756-1834) was a renowned English botanist and horticulturist known for his contributions to plant taxonomy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Coker

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Coker.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Coker was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Coker has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Coker was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Coker, please contact us.

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