Cockernonnie: A mid-19th century Scottish updo where hair was gathered into a bun.

The cockernonnie was a hairstyle worn by women in Scotland during the middle of the nineteenth century. It involved gathering the hair up into a bun similar to a modern chignon. The name may come from Teutonic words for cape and nun, reflecting how nuns covered their hair in a like manner.

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It was a popular style for women in Scotland.
The fashion peaked in the mid-19th century.
Hair was gathered up into a bun shape.
The name may link to Teutonic words for cape and nun.
Charles Mackay wrote about the term in his dictionary.

What it is

This style is an old-fashioned way for women to wear their hair. It involves taking all the hair and pulling it up away from the neck and face. The strands are then arranged into a tight knot or bun at the back of the head. This shape resembles what is now called a chignon. It was a common look for ladies in Scotland during a specific period in history.

Where it comes from

The fashion became popular in Scotland around the middle of the 1800s. Charles Mackay, a writer from that region, recorded details about the term in his Dictionary of Lowland Scotch. He suggested the word comes from older Germanic roots. The parts of the word mean cape and nun, likely because religious women wore their hair covered in a similar fashion.

What it means

The style served as a practical and tidy way for women to manage their hair in daily life. Its name links to religious habits, suggesting a connection to modesty or tradition. By the mid-nineteenth century, it was a recognized fashion choice for Scottish women before falling out of use.

How it is made

To create this look, one gathers all the loose hair together. The mass is twisted or coiled until it forms a compact shape. It is then secured firmly against the scalp or just above the nape of the neck. No elaborate braiding is mentioned, just a simple gathering into a bun form.

A drawing made by EveryHairstyle from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real hairstyle.

Who and what it suits

It appears suitable for any hair texture as long as there is enough length to gather up. The style relies on volume being pulled back rather than specific facial features.

Versions

It is described as being very similar to the modern chignon. There are no other named variations listed in the provided text. The focus remains on the single method of gathering hair into an updo.

In culture

This hairstyle is tied specifically to Scottish culture and history. It appears in literary works like those by Charles Mackay who documented local language and customs. It represents a snapshot of Victorian era grooming habits in Scotland.

Questions people ask about Cockernonnie

What does a cockernonnie look like?

It is an updo where the hair is gathered up and formed into a bun at the back of the head. This shape is very similar to the modern chignon style seen today.

When was this hairstyle popular?

The fashion was most popular during the mid-19th century in Scotland. It is considered a historical style from that specific time period.

Where did the name come from?

Scottish author Charles Mackay believed the word came from Teutonic roots. He linked it to koker meaning cape and nonne meaning nun, referencing how nuns covered their hair.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cockernonnie", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryHairstyle rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

Cockernonnie