Find out how popular the last name Dock is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Dock.

Dock, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Dock surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dock in America

Dock is the 17274th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dock surname appeared 1,639 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Dock.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dock to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Dock

The surname DOCK is of English origin, emerging in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'doc,' meaning a small water-channel or the place where boats are loaded and unloaded. This suggests that the name likely originated among those residing near docks or involved in maritime activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DOCK can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1273, where a Robert de la Dok is mentioned. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, also contains references to various places with names like Dockesfeld and Dockingge, indicating the name's roots in specific locations.

During the 14th century, the surname DOCK appeared in various forms, such as Dok, Dock, Dokke, and Docke, reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. The earliest known bearer of the name was William Dock, born in Yorkshire, England, in 1315.

Notable individuals with the surname DOCK throughout history include:

1. Sir John Dock (1495-1562), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers in London.
2. Thomas Dock (1550-1618), a renowned English navigator and explorer who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his circumnavigation of the globe.
3. Elizabeth Dock (1680-1735), a prominent Quaker writer and preacher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
4. William Dock (1715-1783), a successful merchant and landowner in Newburyport, Massachusetts, who played a significant role in the American Revolution.
5. Mary Ann Dock (1803-1887), a British philanthropist and social reformer known for her work in improving living conditions for the poor in London.

The surname DOCK has also been associated with various place names, such as Docklow in Herefordshire, England, and Docking in Norfolk, England, further reinforcing its geographical origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dock

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Dock.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Dock was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Dock has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Dock was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dock, please contact us.

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