Bock Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Bock last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Bock last name
Meaning of the Bock last name: billy goat (nickname). Bock is a German nickname from Middle High German boc, "billy goat", for a lively, stubborn or lusty man, or a house name for someone living at the sign of the goat. In some families it is occupational, for a goatherd. Animal nicknames of this kind are among the oldest German surnames. Bock is widespread, especially in northern Germany and in Hesse. House signs were the usual way of identifying a building in medieval German towns before street numbering, and many families took their names from them. The name appears in records from the 13th century. In southern Germany and Austria the form Böck is common, and in Low German regions Buck is found. Many Bock families emigrated to the United States in the 19th century, settling in the Midwest, especially in Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Bock name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Bock name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Austria and Denmark; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Bock name FAQ
What does the Bock name mean?
Billy goat (nickname). Common variants include Bocks, Böck, Boeck.
Where does the Bock surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Denmark.
Is there a Bock coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Bock crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Bock coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).