Show ContentsNoch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Noch

What does the name Noch mean?

The name Noch is thought to come from the Middle English phrase "atten okes," meaning "at the oaks;" as such it was likely originally a name for someone who lived by some oak trees. 1

"Aten Oke and Atten Oke were the original forms. When the preposition began to be dropped from this class of surnames, the final N in this instance adhered to the designation of the tree, and we obtained the form Noake, since pluralized into Noakes." 2

Early Origins of the Noch family

The surname Noch was first found in Buckinghamshire where they held a family seat. This ancient Saxon name in derived from common usage from atte en Oak, a place designation, which originated in those counties surrounding London known as the home counties. including Sussex, Essex, and others. 3 4

By 1326 the name was well entrenched in that region and Richard Attenok is recording with estates in Buckingham in 1275, and was succeeded by Richard Noke. 1

John atte Noke was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327 and Robert atte Nokes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1332. 5

Early History of the Noch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Noch research. Another 43 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1662, 1690, 1692, 1719 and 1737 are included under the topic Early Noch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Noch Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Nokes, Noakes, Knoakes, Noke, Noak, Knoak, Noaks, Nokes, Knokes, Nowkes, Noekes and many more.

Early Notables of the Noch family

Distinguished members of the family include James Nokes (Noke, Noak, Noakes) (died 1692), an English actor, whose laughter-arousing genius was well known. He was one of the male actors who played female roles in the newly reopened playhouses shortly after the Restoration of Charles II. But, that practice did not last long as in 1662, Charles II ordered that only women should play female roles. William Noake (1690-1737), was a...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Noch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Noch migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Noch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Noch, aged 31, who landed in Missouri in 1841 6
  • Johann Friedrich Moritz Noch, who landed in America in 1854 6


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  4. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. 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)


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