Zock last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zock

A German occupational surname for someone employed in shepherding flocks.

Zock, 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 Zock surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zock in America

Zock is the 84463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zock surname appeared 222 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zock.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zock 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 84463 85996 -1.80%
Count 222 202 9.43%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.07 13.33%

The history of the last name Zock

The surname Zock has its origins in Germany, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The earliest instances of this surname are primarily found in the regions of Bavaria and the Rhineland. It is believed that the name Zock is derived from the Middle High German word "zuck," which means "pull" or "draw." This suggests that the name may originally have been a nickname for someone known for their strength or for a puller or drawer in some trade or craft.

Historical references to the surname Zock can be found in various medieval manuscripts and church records. One of the earliest documented instances appears in a parish register in Bavaria around the late 14th century. The name appears variously spelled as Zock, Zoke, and Zoak in such records, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling in the Middle Ages.

One notable figure with the surname was Hans Zock, a prominent Bavarian merchant born in 1432 and who died in 1498. He was well-known in regional trading circles, which attests to the presence and influence of the Zock family in commercial activities during this period.

Similarly, Georg Zock of the Rhineland, born in 1510 and deceased in 1575, played a significant role in local governance. He is mentioned in records as holding the position of town councilor in a small Rhineland town, indicating that the Zock family had integrated into public service and local leadership.

By the 17th century, the Zock name had spread to other parts of Germany and was occasionally seen in neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland. One instance is recorded in 1623, involving a Johann Zock, a soldier serving in the Thirty Years' War. His participation in the conflict is documented in military archives, which adds a martial dimension to the history of the surname.

In the late 18th century, another prominent bearer of the name was Karl Zock, an artisan and craftsman born in 1754 and active until his death in 1821. His work in metal craftsmanship was highly regarded, and some of his creations are preserved in museums in southern Germany.

The Zock surname continued to appear in historical documents throughout the 19th century. Antonia Zock, born in 1822 and deceased in 1887, was noted for her social activism and charitable work in Bavaria. Her efforts in improving conditions for the poor earned her recognition and honor within her community.

In summary, the surname Zock has a rich history that originates in medieval Germany. Diverse records from various centuries paint a picture of a name associated with strength, trade, governance, military service, craftsmanship, and social contribution. The name's variations and presence across different regions highlight its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zock

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

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 Zock was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.85% 215
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Zock has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.85% 95.54% 1.36%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Zock last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zock-surname-popularity/.

"Zock last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zock-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Zock last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zock-surname-popularity/.

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