Lewcock

Recorded in the spellings of Lewcock and Lowcock, this is a surname of Old Welsh and English origins. It is said to derive from the pre 7th century personal name Lowis, later generally spelt as Lewis, plus the patronymic "cocca", meaning "son of". It is said that Lowis or Lewis are short forms of the Germanic name "Lodowicus, from "hlod" meaning fame, and "wig" - war. The surname is an early recording in Enland (see below) and examples taken from later surviving church registers include: Daniell Lowcock, the son of John and Ann Lowcock, who was christened at the church of St. Martin-in-the- Fields, Westminster, on 28th October 1683, whilst on October 20th 1795, Charlotte Lewcock, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Lewcock was christened at St. Andrew's Holborn, in the city of London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Peter Luuecok. This was dated 1221, in the "Assize Rolls" of the county of Warwickshire, during the reign of King Henry 111rd of England, 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.