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

Cookingham, 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 Cookingham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cookingham in America

Cookingham is the 52267th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cookingham surname appeared 397 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 Cookingham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cookingham 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 Cookingham

The surname Cookingham is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "coc," meaning a cook or chef, and "ham," referring to a homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with a person who was employed as a cook or lived in a hamlet or village known for its culinary offerings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cookingham surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. This ancient record mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Cochingeham, suggesting that the Cookingham name was already established in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Cookingham surname appeared in various historical documents and records, often with variations in spelling, such as Cochingeham, Cokyngham, and Cookyngham. These variations likely reflect the fluidity of language and spelling conventions during that period.

Notable individuals bearing the Cookingham surname throughout history include Sir William Cookingham (1515-1589), a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire. Another notable figure was John Cookingham (1680-1743), a wealthy merchant and shipowner from Bristol, who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Cookingham surname was associated with several influential figures, such as Sarah Cookingham (1818-1891), a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States. Additionally, Thomas Cookingham (1845-1912) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Philadelphia, including the city's iconic Masonic Temple.

Another notable figure was James Cookingham (1870-1952), a successful businessman and philanthropist from New York. He was instrumental in establishing the Cookingham Institute, a prestigious educational institution dedicated to the advancement of science and technology.

While the Cookingham surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. Over the centuries, it has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cookingham

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!