Welcome to the Cook Family page at Surname Finder, a service of Genealogy Today. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with user-contributed information and web sites for the Cook surname. As additional sources for vital records, original documents, vintage photographs and surname-based DNA projects are discovered, this page is updated to offer the best list for researching Cook ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Cook Family Tree
It is important to remember that there is no single Cook family tree, as last names were assigned to people for various reasons. We are often asked, How common it is for Cook siblings to have the same first name? and you might be surprised at the answer.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Cook Ancestors
Cook Genealogy
Many things can go wrong when a record collection is indexed. If you're having diffculty finding Cook ancestors in a particular database at one site, try finding it on another and compare the results. If you want to know When were Cook births first recorded in the United States?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Cook
Vital records are essential for family history research because they were typically created at or near the time of the event, making the record more reliable.
There are currently matching Cook records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Cook family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Cook Surname
It is quite possible for two people with the Cook last name to have been given that surname for entirely different reasons. Discovering the country from which your Cook ancestors originated can often yield additional clues for the meaning of the surname. Were you aware that Cook is considered a very common surname, which offers its own set of challenges? The article "Researching Common Names" may be helpful for your research. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Cook DNA Projects
While DNA testing cannot conclusively tell you if two Cook ancestors were related, it can easily prove if they weren't. Be sure you understand what types of research issues each different DNA test can address before you spend any money. If you're not sure how DNA testing could aid your Cook research, read "Utilizing DNA in Family History Research".
Cook Family History
Every family has a different history, and every document you discover about your Cook ancestors will help paint a picture that can be shared with your relatives. Whether you are a beginner or expert genealogists, knowing How do I find my Cook family history on the Internet? is always useful.
Photo Collections
Networking with Cook Researchers
In doing genealogy research, we surely don't want to reinvent the wheel; in researching your Cook surname, posting a message query can help you connect with distant cousins and others who may be working on the same lines, some of whom may have advanced the research or solved some of the hard problems, but are willing to share. The article "Looking for John Smith - Focusing a Query" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Cook queries.
You may also want to consider posting a query to the Community Message Boards at Genealogy Today to get assistance from other researchers on your most elusive Cook ancestors.
Cook Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Cook was the 56th most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Cook Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Cook, contact the folks at ProGenealogists for a free research estimate. You may also find it helpful to read, "When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist."
RootsWeb search of US Naturalization Records
RootsWeb search of Obituary Daily Times
RootsWeb search of Social Security Death Index
To recommend your web site/blog for inclusion on this page, please submit a link to the user-contributed directory at Genealogy Today. Your web page may appear once its content has been reviewed by our editors.
Upcoming Cook Family Reunions
One key to a successful Cook reunion is preparation, and for the family researcher that means getting the word out in advance on what to bring (such as the family photo collection); arranging for the display of shared information; and planning activities conducive to sharing; and one of the best ways to get others to participate is in bringing something of your own to share such a picture pedigree, compiled family history or biographical sketch, or even a copies of a treasured photo as a gift for each family -- you may even want to consider putting together a reunion newsletter in advance to be distributed at the reunion, asking for help in solving one or more specific family mysteries: you never know who might have insight they are willing to share, one-on-one. The article "Family Reunions Don't Always Turn Out as one has Pictured" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Cook reunion.
See Also
Kook Cooc Sook Coock Couk Cuk Cooke Cooki Cooku Coo McCook Van M'Cook Ook
Surname Finder, The Cook Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.