| ![Show Contents]() Rook History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England Etymology of RookWhat does the name Rook mean? The ancestors of the Rook family lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Rook was a name given to a person who because of their physical characteristics was known as a "rook," from the black-feathered bird of the same name, similar to a sparrow, but has a whitish area on its face. 1 In this case the surname refers to those individuals who have black hair or dark complexions. 2 3 Alternatively, the name could have been from the Middle English "atter oke, atte roke" meaning "at the oak." 4 Early Origins of the Rook familyThe surname Rook was first found in Worcestershire where Robert Dellroc was recorded c. 1182. In Somerset, we found Peter de la Roke in the Assie Rolls for 1243 and later back in Worcestershire, Richard del Ak was recorded in 1275 and Richard atte Rok was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. Again in Worcestershire, we found Geoffrey atte Ock in 1296 and Geoffrey atter Ok in 1332. 4 Geoffrey le Roke, William le Ruk and Adam le Roc were both listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 2 A few years later during the rule of King Edward III (1312-1377), Richard le Rouke and Hugh le Rook were listed as holding lands in Somerset. 5 Early History of the Rook familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rook research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1606, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1650, 1662, 1665, 1672, 1673, 1685, 1688, 1691, 1704, 1709 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Rook History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rook Spelling VariationsRook has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Rook have been found, including Rook, Rooke, Rookes, Rooks, Roke and others. Early Notables of the Rook familyDistinguished members of the family include - Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke (1650-1709), an English naval commander, probably best known for capturing Gibraltar for the British in 1704. He was second son of Sir William Rooke (1624-1691) o...
- Lawrence Rooke (1622-1662), was an English astronomer and mathematician, born at Deptford on 13 March 1622 and was eldest son of George Rooke of Monkshorton, Kent. He was one of the founders of the Ro...
Rook RankingIn the United States, the name Rook is the 9,289th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6 However, in Netherlands, the name Rook is ranked the 935th most popular surname with an estimated 2,194 people with that name. 7
| Rook migration to the United States | + |
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Rooks to arrive on North American shores:
Rook Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Michael Rook, who landed in Virginia in 1704 8
- Sarah Rook, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 8
- Joan Jacob Rook, aged 32, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 8
Rook Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Anton A Rook, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 8
- Augustine Rook, aged 31, who arrived in Kennebunk, Me in 1830 8
- Frederick Rook, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 8
- William Rook, who landed in New York in 1844 8
- Henry J Rook, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1848 8
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Rook migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Rook Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Lawrence Rook, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
- Joseph Rook, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
| Rook migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Rook Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- John Rook, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
- Thomas Rook, English convict from Worcester, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
- Thomas G. Rook, aged 42, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Standard" 10
- Mary Rook, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Standard" 10
- Henry Rook, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Stamboul"
| Rook migration to West Indies | + |
The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 11Rook Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century- George Rook, aged 21, who landed in Barbados in 1684 8
| Contemporary Notables of the name Rook (post 1700) | + |
- Jerry Rook (b. 1943), American former professional basketball player
- James M. Rook, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 16th District, 1922 12
- Elmer Rook, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1956, 1960 12
- Charles A. Rook, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1908, 1920; Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1916 12
- Susan Rook, CNN journalist and photographer
- Jean Kathleen Rook (1931-1991), British newspaper columnist
- Alan Rook, editor of New Oxford Poetry, one of the Cairo poets
| Historic Events for the Rook family | + |
- Mr. Robert Rook (b. 1864), Welsh coal miner from Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 13
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Efflorescent cornices dum micat sol
Motto Translation: Rooks will flourish while the sun shines.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
- South Australian Register Monday 18th December 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Standard 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1854.shtml
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
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