_Pronunciations of "Coke" and "Cowper"_ (Vols. iv. and v. _passim_; Vol.
vi., p. 16.).--So much, and so well to the purpose, has already been said
in "N. & Q.," in support of the averment that the former of these names was
originally pronounced _Cook_, that it may appear needless to adduce
additional evidence; still, considering the source from which the testimony
I am now bringing forward is derived, I think I may stand excused for
recurring to the subject. It is from the Court Books of the manor of
Mitcham (the birthplace of Sir Edward Coke), and from the parochial
registers; in which, and, indeed, in all cotemporary records where sound
was followed in the spelling, I find the name of this family written {604}
_Cook_ or _Cooke_. The great Sir Edward's own baptismal register is thus
entered--1551, Feb. 7. "Edward Cooke genero." Surely this is conclusive.
The same pronunciation was vulgarly followed almost up to the present time.
There must be many who remember at the Norfolk elections the cry of "Cook
for ever," as well as that of the opposite political party who threw up
their caps for _Woodhouse_; for so _Wodehouse_ was in like manner
pronounced. Again, the Hobarts, another Norfolk family, were always called
_Hubbarts_; and more anciently Bokenham, _Buckenham_, Todenham,
_Tuddenham_, and others I could name, showing that in the Norfolk dialect
the usage was in pronunciation to soften the _o_.
Now as regards the sound of Cowper, the same class of authorities, old
deeds, court rolls, and parish registers, appears to lead to a different
conclusion from that of your other correspondents. We have now no _Cowper_
family of Norfolk origin; of _Coopers_ we have multitudes: the names of
whose forefathers were written _Couper_ or _Cowper_; and if written as
pronounced, the analogical inference is that the original pronunciation was
_Cowper_, Cooper being merely the modern way of spelling; and curiously
enough, the parish of _Hoo_, in this county, is called and now usually
spelt _How_.