A bit of background. Take your pick:
A) Recorded as Toke, Took, Tuck, Tuke, and the diminutives Tookey, Tuckie and Tuckey, this interesting and most unusual surname is English but ultimately of pre 7th century Viking origins. It derives from the personal name Tuke, itself claimed to be short form of "Thorkettill" translating as "Thors cauldron",. However some researchers say the derivation is from "Tiodgeir", meaning "people-spear", so there may be several possibilities. The personal name as Toc is recorded in the Domesday Book for Yorkshire in 1086, whilst Rogerus filius Toke is mentioned in the Curia Rolls of Northampton in 1214. Early examples of the surname include Robert Toke in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk in 1200; William Toke, in the Curia Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1211; and Richard Toki in the Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire in 1273.
Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Took#ixzz5TUOfnWMC
B) The name Took reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Took family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Took family lived in Kent. Their name, however, is a reference to Touques, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
Early Origins of the Took family
The surname Took was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from early times after the Norman Conquest in 1066. They were descended from Le Sire de Touques from Pont-le-Eveque where the castle stood. Wace, the historian, mentions the Baron Touque as amongst the Companions of Duke William, at Hastings in 1066. The ancient family of Touque of Godington of Kent claim descent from this Norman Lord. We would be remiss if we did not address the legendary Friar Tuck. Two royal writs in 1417 refer to Robert Stafford, a Sussex chaplain who had assumed the alias of Frere Tuk. Little more is known about him other than this "Friar Tuck" was still at large in 1429.
Oh, this was super-fascinating!!! Thank you so much!
I had no idea that Friar Tuck was a proven historical person! That is so cool! And so recent! I had to laugh at myself for my initial reaction of feeling 1429 as 'recent', but after spending such a long time in the company of these people, it is starting to feel fairly recent *g*
Certainly he was close in time to these people!
Inspired by the above, I went for another search for Toke/Coke, and found the following:
Duke of Suffolk v Coke. Plaintiffs: John, duke of Suffolk, and William, earl of Arundell. Defendants: John Coke and Robert AylmerReference: C 1/15/334
Description: Short title: Duke of Suffolk v Coke.
Plaintiffs: John, duke of Suffolk, and William, earl of Arundell.
Defendants:
John Coke and
Robert Aylmer.
Subject: Unspecified.
Date:
1443-1450, possibly 1455-1456Held by: The National Archives, Kew
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7439364Duke of Suffolk v Cook. Plaintiffs: John, duke of Suffolk. Defendants: John Cook and Robert
Aylmere, feoffees to usesReference: C 1/48/267
Description: Short title: Duke of Suffolk v Cook.
Plaintiffs: John, duke of Suffolk.
Defendants:
John Cook and
Robert Aylmere, feoffees to uses.
Subject: Manor of Grymston called Breklys, late of John Pagrave, esquire, and Henry Faldyate, grocer, of Norwich. Norfolk
Date:
1473-1475Held by: The National Archives, Kew
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7446993John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk, (1442–1492)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_de_la_Pole,_2nd_Duke_of_SuffolkWilliam FitzAlan, 16th Earl of Arundel, 6th Baron Maltravers (1417–1487)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_FitzAlan,_16th_Earl_of_Arundel(This William FitzAlan was by the way the great-grandfather of the Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel (1512–1580) who married Katherine Grey, Lady Maltravers (d.1542) the daughter of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquis of Dorset, and who was the aunt of Lady Jane Grey, whose tutor Bishop John Aylmer was
)
Such an interesting story behind the name Toke!
