UK surname
A surname locative in origin, referring to someone from Pollok near Glasgow, Scotland.
In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Pollok surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #18,126 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Govan Combination and Mearns. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pollok is 172 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.9%.
1881 census count
116
Ranked #18,126
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1891
172 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pollok surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pollok surname density by area, 1881 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 | 163 | #12,156 |
| 1861 | historical | 94 | #21,883 |
| 1881 | historical | 116 | #18,126 |
| 1891 | historical | 172 | #16,663 |
| 1901 | historical | 169 | #16,824 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 76 | #29,997 |
| 1998 | modern | 77 | #30,289 |
| 1999 | modern | 79 | #30,243 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 79 | #30,065 |
| 2002 | modern | 78 | #30,601 |
| 2003 | modern | 70 | #31,486 |
| 2004 | modern | 75 | #31,233 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 70 | #32,240 |
| 2007 | modern | 71 | #32,484 |
| 2008 | modern | 68 | #33,047 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 75 | #33,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 76 | #32,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 83 | #32,611 |
| 2013 | modern | 78 | #33,215 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 79 | #33,127 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Govan Combination, Mearns, Cathcart and Glasgow. 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 | Hamilton | Lanark |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Mearns | Renfrew |
| 4 | Cathcart | Renfrew |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pollok 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 Pollok, 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 Pollok surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pollok 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, Pollok 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 Pollok is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pollok, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname POLLOK has its origins in the Scottish county of Renfrewshire, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "pol" meaning a pool or stream, and "ac" meaning an oak tree, referring to a settlement near an oak tree by a pool or stream.
The earliest recorded reference to the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as "Pollok". This was a record of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
In the 14th century, the POLLOK family became prominent landowners in Renfrewshire, with their ancestral home being the lands of Pollok near the present-day city of Glasgow. The family's coat of arms, which features three oak trees, is a nod to the name's origins.
One of the earliest recorded members of the POLLOK family was Robert Pollok (c. 1420 - 1489), who served as a diplomat and ambassador for King James III of Scotland. He was instrumental in negotiating the Treaty of Ayton in 1484, which brought a temporary peace between Scotland and England.
In the 16th century, the POLLOK family gained further prominence with Sir Robert Pollok (c. 1515 - 1590), who was a prominent lawyer and served as Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland from 1582 until his death.
Another notable figure was Robert Pollok (1798 - 1827), a Scottish poet best known for his work "The Course of Time", an epic poem published in 1827. Despite his short life, Pollok's work was widely read and admired in both Britain and the United States.
In the 19th century, Sir John Pollok (1837 - 1908) was a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the cotton trade. He donated significant sums to various educational and charitable causes, including the founding of Pollok House, now a museum and art gallery in Glasgow.
More recently, the POLLOK name has been carried on by individuals such as Sir Hew Pollok (1892 - 1971), a British Army officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
While the POLLOK name has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with notable bearers of the name found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pollok 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. Lanarkshire leads with 52 Polloks recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 52 | 13.62x |
| Renfrewshire | 30 | 32.80x |
| Ayrshire | 9 | 10.19x |
| Dunbartonshire | 8 | 25.22x |
| Channel Islands | 5 | 14.30x |
| Perthshire | 5 | 9.44x |
| Stirlingshire | 4 | 9.19x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.14x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.26x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.35x |
| Buteshire | 1 | 13.99x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 28 Polloks recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.66x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 28 | 29.66x |
| Neilston | 14 | 305.01x |
| Barony | 8 | 8.28x |
| Dalserf | 7 | 183.73x |
| Ayr | 6 | 143.88x |
| Bonhill | 6 | 117.88x |
| Cathcart | 6 | 121.21x |
| St Helier | 5 | 43.90x |
| Crieff | 4 | 203.05x |
| Mearns | 4 | 250.00x |
| New Monkland | 4 | 35.46x |
| Cambusnethan | 3 | 35.38x |
| Eastwood | 3 | 53.29x |
| St Ninians | 3 | 69.61x |
| Eaglesham | 2 | 357.14x |
| Glasgow | 2 | 2.95x |
| Kilmarnock | 2 | 19.03x |
| North Leith | 2 | 27.32x |
| Old Kilpatrick | 2 | 53.33x |
| Barnes | 1 | 41.15x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 8.99x |
| Kilbride | 1 | 113.64x |
| Kilsyth | 1 | 35.97x |
| Largs | 1 | 48.08x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.59x |
| Methven | 1 | 128.21x |
| Paisley Middle Church | 1 | 18.76x |
| Southwark St Thomas | 1 | 312.50x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 6.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pollok 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 Pollok 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 Pollok households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Clerk | 2 |
| Colonel In Army Retired List | 1 |
| Colonels Wife | 1 |
| Ladysmaid | 1 |
| Traveller For Wollen | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Pollok surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Pollok a modern rank of #33,100.
A surname locative in origin, referring to someone from Pollok near Glasgow, Scotland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pollok 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.