Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• del Ak 1224 FF

• Ake, Aka 1253,1259 FF 1277 Heref 1291 Tax 1319,1335,1338 Pat

• Lake, Oke 1255 Ass

• Rok(e) 1259 FF 1308 Ipm

• la Rok(e) 1332 Heref 1349,1351,1377,1550 Pat

• Aca, Hake 1276,1277 Heref

• Rock(e), Rokke 1309 Cl 1348 Pat 1524 LP

• Rook(e), (la Rook(e)) 1366 Cl 1385,1447,1481 Pat 1545 LP

• Rok al. Ak 1381 Pat

• Ak vel Rook 1385 Pat

• Aka al. Rocke 1535 VE

Etymology

OE  æt þǣre āce , 'at the oak,' with later development to at ther oke , at the roke . The modern form should be Roke but it is clear that confusion with the common word rock has taken place.It should be noted that, ecclesiastically, forms without r were used to quite a late date. Rock in Washington (Sx) has the same history.