Cokley last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Cokley

A locational surname derived from a place named Cookley or Cokeley.

Cokley, 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 Cokley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cokley in America

Cokley is the 23837th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cokley surname appeared 1,060 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cokley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cokley 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 23837 26215 -9.50%
Count 1,060 877 18.90%
Proportion per 100k 0.36 0.33 8.70%

The history of the last name Cokley

The surname COKLEY is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'cocc,' meaning a small hill or mound, combined with the word 'leah,' which translates to a meadow or clearing in a woodland area. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who resided near a distinct hillock or mound within a meadow or forest clearing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the COKLEY surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a certain John Cokeley is listed. This document serves as a valuable historical reference, providing insight into the early variants of the name's spelling.

During the 16th century, the surname COKLEY appeared in various parish records and legal documents across England. For instance, in 1568, a Richard Cokley was recorded as a landowner in the county of Shropshire. This suggests that the family had established itself as a prominent presence within the region by that time.

Notably, the COKLEY surname has been associated with several historical figures over the centuries. One such individual was William Cokley, a renowned theologian and author who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (c. 1565-1634). His writings and scholarly contributions to the field of theology garnered significant recognition during his lifetime.

Another notable bearer of the COKLEY surname was Sir John Cokley (1621-1687), a prominent English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Taunton during the reign of King Charles II. He played an influential role in shaping the political landscape of his time.

In the 18th century, the COKLEY name was associated with George Cokley (1732-1798), a respected architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the renowned St. Paul's Church in Covent Garden.

The surname COKLEY has also been linked to various place names and localities within England. For instance, the village of Cokley in Worcestershire is believed to have derived its name from the same linguistic roots as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the geographical landscape.

It is important to note that while the COKLEY surname has a rich history and has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the centuries, the information presented here focuses solely on the surname itself and does not delve into its use as a first or given name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cokley

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

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 Cokley was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 23.49% 249
Non-Hispanic Black Only 69.43% 736
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.49% 37
Hispanic Origin 2.64% 28

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 Cokley has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 23.49% 30.44% -25.77%
Black 69.43% 65.91% 5.20%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 3.49% 1.71% 68.46%
Hispanic 2.64% 1.48% 56.31%

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 Cokley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Cokley last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 4, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/cokley-surname-popularity/.

"Cokley last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/cokley-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 November, 2024

Cokley last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/cokley-surname-popularity/.

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