UK surname
A surname derived from the skin condition pox or related terms.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Pock surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pock is 160 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.2%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1861
160 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pock surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pock surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 160 | #14,468 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 46 | #30,657 |
| 1901 | historical | 15 | #32,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 24 | #35,376 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 20 | #36,534 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, Combfields or Comb Abbey and Withyham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton | Devon |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Combfields or Comb Abbey | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Withyham | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pock surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pock, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pock is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pock is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname POCK has its origins in Germany, emerging as early as the 12th century. It is derived from the Low German word "pock," which referred to a small bump or swelling, particularly in relation to the skin condition known as smallpox. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone who had suffered from this illness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name POCK can be found in the Urkunden und Akten der Stadt Strassburg, a collection of documents and records from the city of Strasbourg, dating back to 1284. This entry mentions a certain Johannes Pock, suggesting that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the name POCK appeared in various German chronicles and records, such as the Würzburger Lehnbuch from 1317, which lists a Cunradus Pock among the landholders in the region. Another notable example is the Codex Traditionum Monasterii Sancti Emmerami from 1347, which mentions a Heinrich Pock as a witness to a land transaction.
During the 15th century, the name POCK began to spread beyond its initial German origins. In England, the earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to 1459, when a John Pock was mentioned in the Calender of the Patent Rolls.
One of the most famous individuals to bear the surname POCK was the German writer and philosopher Friedrich Pock (1786-1853), known for his works on aesthetics and literary criticism. Another notable figure was the Austrian composer and musician Johann Pock (1713-1792), who served as the Kapellmeister at the Stephansdom in Vienna.
In the 16th century, the POCK surname can be found in various historical records, such as the Taufregister der Evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Reutlingen from 1568, which lists the baptism of a child named Hans Pock. Additionally, the Münchner Bürgerbuch from 1586 mentions a certain Georg Pock as a citizen of Munich.
The 17th century saw the emergence of several noteworthy individuals with the surname POCK, including the German painter and engraver Georg Pock (1625-1689), known for his landscapes and biblical scenes. Another notable figure was the Dutch physician and naturalist Caspar Pock (1650-1718), who made significant contributions to the study of botany and zoology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pock surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 5 Pocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 5 | 3.32x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 3.15x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 4.88x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 9.13x |
| Somerset | 1 | 4.90x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walton On Hill in Lancashire leads with 5 Pocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 609.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Walton On Hill | 5 | 609.76x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 100.33x |
| Barony | 2 | 19.27x |
| Bath St James | 1 | 476.19x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 50.00x |
| Whitchurch | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pock surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pock surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pock households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| A B Seaman | 1 |
| Cashier | 1 |
| Dependant | 1 |
| Draper Apprentice | 1 |
| Law Writer | 1 |
| Manager Of Refreshment Room | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Monthly Nurse | 1 |
| Office Boy | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Pock surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Pock a modern rank of #36,533.
A surname derived from the skin condition pox or related terms.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pock bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.