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

Stocks, 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 Stocks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stocks in America

Stocks is the 7107th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stocks surname appeared 4,708 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Stocks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stocks 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 Stocks

The surname Stocks originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stocc," meaning a tree trunk or a log. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as an occupational surname to a woodcutter or a forester.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname Stocks can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which record the name "William Stok" in Cambridgeshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also list a "Richard del Stok."

The surname Stocks likely evolved from various place names that incorporated the word "stock" or its variants, such as Stockton or Stoke. For instance, in the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to several locations with names like "Stochis" and "Stoche."

In the 14th century, the surname Stocks appeared in various spellings, including Stok, Stoke, and Stocke. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Sir John de Stoke, a prominent English judge who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1340 to 1341.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Stocks continued to be well-represented in various parts of England. One renowned individual with this name was Thomas Stocks (c.1564-1615), an English poet and playwright who served as the rector of Stretham in Cambridgeshire.

Another notable figure was Eleazar Stocks (1594-1672), an English Puritan minister and religious writer. He published several works, including a treatise on baptism and a commentary on the Book of Malachi.

In the 18th century, the Stocks surname gained further prominence with individuals like John Stocks (1749-1828), an English Baptist minister and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects.

Towards the 19th century, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Samuel Stocks (1822-1892), a prominent English clergyman and biblical scholar. He served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral and was widely recognized for his scholarly works on the Bible and theology.

Throughout its history, the surname Stocks has been associated with various professions, from foresters and woodcutters to judges, ministers, and scholars, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stocks

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

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 Stocks 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 Stocks 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 Stocks was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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