Oakes is a surname of Old English origin, meaning someone who lives by an oak tree or oak wood. It originates from the Old English word 'ac' meaning oak. The first recorded mention of the surname is in Somerset.Alan Oakes, English football player and coach Alf Oakes (1901–1967), English footballer Andy Oakes (author), English author Andy Oakes (footballer), English footballer Blackford Oakes, fictional protagonist in a series of books by William F. Buckley Jr. Bunny Oakes (1898–1970), American football player and coach Cadel Oakes, Australian basketball player Charles Oakes (1861–1928), Australian politician Charles Oakes (cricketer) (1912–2007), English cricketer Charles Chandler Oakes (1856–1934), American sea captain Coralee Oakes, Canadian politician Danny Oakes (1911–2007), American racing driver David Oakes, British actor Dennis Oakes, English cricketer and footballer Don Oakes, American footballer Don Oakes (footballer) (1928–1977), English footballer Edwin Randolph Oakes (1818–1889), Canadian politician Elizabeth Oakes Smith (1806–1893), American poet, writer, and women's rights activist Frank L. Oakes (1850–1912), American sea captain Fred Oakes, English footballer Gary Oakes, British athlete Geoffrey Oakes, English frugby player George Oakes (1813–1881), Australian politician George Oakes (Wisconsin) (1861–1937), American politician Gordon Oakes (1931–2005), British politician Sir Harry Oakes, 1st Baronet (1874–1943), British-Canadian entrepreneur Heather Oakes, English athlete Sir Henry Oakes, 2nd Baronet (1756–1827), British lieutenant-general Sir Hildebrand Oakes, 1st Baronet (1754–1822), British army Lieutenant-General who served during the American War of Independence Jack Oakes (1905–1992), English footballer Jackie Oakes (1919–1995), Scottish footballer James L. Oakes (1924–2007), American senior circuit judge Jason Oakes (cricketer), South African cricket player Jill Oakes, American soccer player Jimmy Oakes (1902–1992), English footballer John B. Oakes (1913–2001), American journalist John Cogswell Oakes (1906–1982), US Army Lieutenant General John Wright Oakes (1820–1887), English landscape painter Judy Oakes, British Olympic athlete Kaya Oakes, American poet and writer Keith Oakes, English footballer Laurie Oakes, Australian journalist Lee Oakes, English actor Levi Oakes (1925–2019), American-Canadian Mohawk code talker Maud Oakes (1903–1990), American ethnologist Meredith Oakes, Australian playwright Michael Oakes, English footballer Nancy Oakes, American chef Nigel Oakes, British businessman Oliver Oakes, English motor racing driver Randi Oakes, American actress and model Rebel Oakes (1883–1948), American baseball player Richard Oakes (activist) (1942–1972), Native American Mohawk activist Richard Oakes (guitarist), English guitarist for alternative rock band Suede Royal F. Oakes, American radio show host and media legal commentator Russell J. Oakes (1909–1952), Australian dramatist Scott Oakes, English footballer Simon Oakes (cricketer), English cricketer Simon Oakes (executive), English CEO of Hammer Films Stacy Erwin Oakes, American politician Stefan Oakes, English footballer Thomas Oakes (representative) (1644–1719), American physician and politician Thomas Oakes (engineer), American engineer Thomas Fletcher Oakes (1843–1919), American President of the Northern Pacific Railway Thomas Oakes (footballer), English footballer Urian Oakes (1631–1681), English-born American minister and President of Harvard College Warren Oakes, American drummer William Oakes (botanist) (1799–1848), American botanist William H. Oakes, American music publisher