This most interesting and unusual surname is of early medieval French origin, specifically from Brittany, from where it was introduced into the south-western English counties of Cornwall, Devonshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire. The modern surname, found as Cornock, Cornick and Corneck, derives from "Cornec, Cornic" and "Cornac", Breton forms of the Old French surname "Corne", from "corne", a horn, and originally given either as a nickname to a cuckolded husband (traditionally depicted with horns), or as a metonymic occupational name to a hornblower. The musical instrument was made from the actual horn of an animal, and was used not only in recreation and entertainment, but also as a signal. The Breton and Cornish languages share the same Celtic roots, and there are frequent similarities to be found in typical name suffixes such as in the Breton "Corn-ec", and the Cornish "Corn-eck". On April 27th 1595, Margarett, daughter of Gyles Cornock, was christened in Awre with Blakeney, Gloucestershire, and in January 1630 the birth of Germanus Cornec was recorded in Plougastel-Dadulas, Finistere, Brittany. The family Coat of Arms is an azure shield with a gold chevron and a silver unicorn passant in base, on a red chief three stars of the second. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Cornicke, which was dated June 1st 1572, a christening witness at Horsington, Somerset, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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