Surname Noake - Meaning and Origin

Noake: What does the surname Noake mean?

The last name Noake is of Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English word næwe, meaning "point of land". It is believed to have been used as a nick name for someone who lived near a strip of land or point that extended out in a body of water. The spelling variations of Noake include Noake, Naik, Nake, Nayke and Naecke.

Noake is a popularly found surname in England, with some 2000 people in England and Wales according to the 1881 census. It was most commonly found in the Midlands region of England. It is also quite a common last name in the West Indies, Canada, and the United States.

The Noake family name has many distinguishing features. It is believed that members of the Noake family were early settlers and descendants of Baronial families who held honor and high stature in society. Many members of the Noake name achieved positions of note, often as officials, mayors, or influential members of their local community.

In recent times, members of the Noake family have distinguished themselves in many fields including law, medicine, and the military. The Noakes are also well represented in business and the arts. Today, the main focus of the Noake family is is to maintain their legacy and honor through hard work, integrity and commitment to common values.

Noake: Where does the name Noake come from?

The last name Noake is most commonly found in England, with the highest concentrations present in Somerset, Norfolk, South Gloucestershire, and Durham. Additionally, large populations of people with the last name Noake can be found in Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.

The name Noake can be traced back centuries to parts of England and Wales, where it is thought to originate from a Norman name. Records of the name can be found dating back as early as the 13th century in Somerset, where the name was mentioned in documents. Today, the name is still seen occasionally in both England and Wales, but it is less common.

The spelling of Noake is still used to this day, and there are some variations of the name, such as Noakes and Noaks. Surprisingly, Noake is also present in many other countries around the world, with the highest numbers in South Africa, Australia, and the United States.

The last name Noake is linked by some people to the old Norse word “nokkvi” which means promontory or headland. Whether or not the name has its origins in this old Norse word is still disputed.

No matter the origin, the last name Noake is still found today, but in lower numbers than in prior centuries. In modern times, it's most closely associated with the United Kingdom, but it can also be seen regularly in many other countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Noake

The surname Noake is a variant spelling of the anglicized Gaelic surname Ó Naoigh that originated from the southern Irish region of Munster. Ó Naoigh is a patronymic name meaning “descendant of Naoigh”, with Naoigh being an ancient personal name of uncertain etymology.

The variant spellings of this name are Noakes, Nokes, Noakey, Noak, Noakes, Nokes and Noaker. The Noakes spelling is the most commonly found variant.

Noake is a rare surname, but there are a few other surnames of similar origins. The Noak family also originates from the southern Irish region of Munster and has its own separate branch of bearers. The Noak (or Noakes or Nokes) family is an anglicized form of the old Gaelic surname Ó Nuacháin, which means “descendant of Nuachán”. This was an ancient personal name of uncertain etymology.

Noakes is also a variant of the Olde English first name Noga, which is derived from the element “noke” meaning “bend of a hill”.

Lastly, in some countries, particularly France, German, and Spain, Noakes is an anglicized form of the surname Noher. Noher is derived from the Old French term “noer”, which is the French word for carpenter.

Famous people with the name Noake

• Reuben Noake: Reuben Noake is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League (NRL) and a New South Wales rugby league representative.
• David Noakes: David Noakes is a British businessman who is best known for his involvement in sports promotion and business. He is the founder and former CEO of Apex Sports and Entertainment, which promote sports events around the world.
• Paul Noakes: Paul Noakes is a British film director and creator of the 1999 animated comedy film Chicken Run. He is known for his work on Emmy Award-winning animated shorts for Nickelodeon.
• Thomas Noake: Thomas Noake was a professional soccer player who played in England from 1892 to 1902 for a variety of clubs including Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Newport County, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
• Wilfred Noake: Wilfred Noake was an English academic who served as President of St John's College, Oxford between 1948 and 1957. He also served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford between 1949 and 1951.
• William Noake: William Noake was a 19th century English surgeon, having graduated from King's College London. He was also an ardently active Quaker and philanthropist.
• Mary Noakes: Mary Noakes was an English bestselling romantic novelist famous for her debut novel, The Portrait, which became one of the bestsellers of 1924.
• Clifford Noakes: Clifford Noakes was an Australian tenor and lecturer at the Royal College of Music in London, as well as one of the first Australian artists to perform in international operas.

Other surnames

Noak