Tooker Genealogy (England)

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Posted by Warren Tooker on January 15, 1999 at 12:10:25:

Here is an email conversation between Mike Tooker (New Zealand) and Warren Tooker (USA) that I thoughy should be posted to the thread
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Warren: Thanks for the information. I have not had a chance to digest it all, but it appears there are two origins for the name Tooker. One in America derived from Tucker, and another in England derived from Toker.

Mike: It has always been clear that Tucker is the source, or trade, name. The
southwest of England was the great wool production area in the Middle
Ages, shipping the raw product to what is now Belgium for finishing.

I imagine that the tuckers who worked their up to farm ownership or into
middle-class professions started to change their name to differentiate
themselves from the "working class"!

I have a copy of a chapter in a book named "The Worthies of Devon",
published in 1810, referring to a "TOOKER, alias TUCKER, William". This
man, born around 1555, had an illustrious career in academic theology.
Here we see the shucking off of the trade name. Interesting too that his
father, who was mayor of Exeter in 1543, is referred to as Robert TOOKER.

Warren: It's interesting that the Dictionary of Surnames, Hanks & Hodges, published by Oxford, does not list the name Tooker, but does mention Tucker and Toker.

Mike: Possibly because the name TOOKER, in England certainly, is not common, but TUCKER is Haven't come across Toker at all, however, I remember as a kid seeing more than once in Exeter (the county town of Devon) a statue to a Boer War general named Tuker. He sure made the pronunciation clear didn't he!

Warren: Tucker is an occupational name for a fuller of cloth, as are Walker and Fuller for the same occupation.

Mike: According to one source, Fuller comes from FOULER, the Norman-French equivalent of the Anglo-Saxon TUCKER. Another source (Collins English Dictionary) says the root is Latin (fullere), which makes sense. I have a friend doing research into her WALKER ancestors from the north of England, so I will see what she says about that name.

Warren: For what it's worth, Toker, according to this book, is derived from Tokarz (also Tokarczyk, Tokarck, Tokarzewicz, Tokarevich) which is an occupational name for a turner (whatever that is). It has Polish and Jewish roots. Toker (also Tocker) is listed under the Jewish portion of the description, and is derived from Yiddish.

Mike: The problem with Jewish names is that they tended to change them according to the language zone they fetched up in, e.g. from the original Hebrew into mediaeval German (Yiddish) then maybe anglicise them when they go to America or other English speaking countries which then go to war with Germany! Often wondered where TOCKER came from as it didn't seem to fit, must ask the next one I meet, they are not uncommon here.

Warren Tooker wetooker@inforum.net
Mike Tooker mtooker@ibm.net

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: Here is an email conversation between Mike Tooker (New Zealand) and Warren Tooker (USA) that I thoughy should be posted to the thread : --------- : Warren: Thanks for the information. I have not had a chance to digest it all, but it appears there are two origins for the name Tooker. One in America derived from Tucker, and another in England derived from Toker. : : Mike: It has always been clear that Tucker is the source, or trade, name. The : southwest of England was the great wool production area in the Middle : Ages, shipping the raw product to what is now Belgium for finishing. : I imagine that the tuckers who worked their up to farm ownership or into : middle-class professions started to change their name to differentiate : themselves from the "working class"! : I have a copy of a chapter in a book named "The Worthies of Devon", : published in 1810, referring to a "TOOKER, alias TUCKER, William". This : man, born around 1555, had an illustrious career in academic theology. : Here we see the shucking off of the trade name. Interesting too that his : father, who was mayor of Exeter in 1543, is referred to as Robert TOOKER. : Warren: It's interesting that the Dictionary of Surnames, Hanks & Hodges, published by Oxford, does not list the name Tooker, but does mention Tucker and Toker. : Mike: Possibly because the name TOOKER, in England certainly, is not common, but TUCKER is Haven't come across Toker at all, however, I remember as a kid seeing more than once in Exeter (the county town of Devon) a statue to a Boer War general named Tuker. He sure made the pronunciation clear didn't he! : Warren: Tucker is an occupational name for a fuller of cloth, as are Walker and Fuller for the same occupation. : Mike: According to one source, Fuller comes from FOULER, the Norman-French equivalent of the Anglo-Saxon TUCKER. Another source (Collins English Dictionary) says the root is Latin (fullere), which makes sense. I have a friend doing research into her WALKER ancestors from the north of England, so I will see what she says about that name. : Warren: For what it's worth, Toker, according to this book, is derived from Tokarz (also Tokarczyk, Tokarck, Tokarzewicz, Tokarevich) which is an occupational name for a turner (whatever that is). It has Polish and Jewish roots. Toker (also Tocker) is listed under the Jewish portion of the description, and is derived from Yiddish. : : Mike: The problem with Jewish names is that they tended to change them according to the language zone they fetched up in, e.g. from the original Hebrew into mediaeval German (Yiddish) then maybe anglicise them when they go to America or other English speaking countries which then go to war with Germany! Often wondered where TOCKER came from as it didn't seem to fit, must ask the next one I meet, they are not uncommon here. : Warren Tooker wetooker@inforum.net : Mike Tooker mtooker@ibm.net

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