Surname Fock - Meaning and Origin
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Fock: What does the surname Fock mean?
Fock is an Germanic surname of ancient origin. It is derived from the Old High German word "fokko" which means a hook or a curved piece of metal. This could indicate origin from an occupation related to metalworking or perhaps a hook-directed weapon. It is also derived from the word "focken," which is an old Germanic term for a dweller in a forest or fenced area.
The surname Fock has many variations depending on the region. In some areas it is spelled as Focke, Focken, Fockmann, and Vock, while in others it is spelled as Fokken, Focken, Focks, and Fockes.
The popularity of the name Fock spread through migration and has been found across Europe, particularly in Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. It has also spread to other countries such as England, Ireland, Scotland, and Canada.
Fock is not only popular as a surname, but it is also commonly used as a first name. Some famous bearers of the Fock name include Swedish guitarists Jacob Fock and Per Fock, German author Stefan Fock, author James Focken, and Canadian field hockey player Robby Fock.
The Fock name is believed to originate from an occupational heritage or a place name. The popular name is commonly linked with the tradition of metalworking and may be a sign of an occupation involving metalhooks or curved pieces of metal. It could also be associated with a nuclear habitation of a forest or fenced area.
Order DNA origin analysisFock: Where does the name Fock come from?
The Fock family can be found today primarily in northwestern Germany, especially in northern Schleswig-Holstein. The Fock family name is quite prevalent in the area; according to the 1911 German census, it was the 644th most common surname in the country.
The Fock name is also found in Denmark, and apparently can trace its roots back to the Lübboten area in northern Germany, near the Danish border. It is seen in records dating back to the early 16th century, and suggests some kind of Danish origins.
The Fock name also appears in Germany's Saxony region, primarily in the eastern part of the area near the nearby Czech Republic. It also appears in the southwestern region of the country, not too far from Frankfurt.
Finally, the Fock name can be found in the United States as well, specifically in the Midwest and in Southern states, as well as in immigrant communities in the Northeast. One branch of the Fock family tree in America traces its roots back to Pennsylvania, where the earliest records of the Fock family date back to the late 17th century.
In short, the Fock family name is quite common today, in many areas of Germany, Denmark and the United States. Despite its relatively low ranking in the 1911 German census, it is still a quite common name today.
Variations of the surname Fock
Fock is a surname of German origin and the most common variants and spellings of this surname are Foeck, Foecke, Foek, Feyck, Feycke, Feyk, Fiek, Fieck, Fiecke, Ficke, Ficke, Fyck and Fyecke. All of these surnames share the same origin and have the same meaning: a dweller by a stream.
The Fock family is not limited by these variants as Fock is also an anglicized form for a variety of German surnames such as Focht, Foch, Focken, Focke, Fockstädt, Von Focken and Von Focke. The surnames Focht, Foch, Focken, Focke and Fockstädt likely derive from the Middle Low German word “focke”, which meant “inhabitants” or “dwellers”. The surnames Von Focken and Von Focke come from the family name of people who were originally from Fock, Germany.
People with the surname Fock, its variants and spellings can be found all over the world, but the majority can be found around Germany, the Netherlands, the Swedish-speaking parts of Finland, the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Today, Fock is not only a surname but can also be used as a first name throughout the English-speaking world.
Famous people with the name Fock
- Max Fock: Tenor saxophonist, a member of the established Fock Jazz Band
- Carl August Ludwig Fock: German physicist who specialized in theoretical physics and mathematics
- Ernst Fock: German physicist who specialized in quantum mechanics
- Reinhold Ferdinand Fock: German botanist who worked with the families of Euphorbiaceae, Menispermaceae and Leguminosae
- Henriette Fock: 19th-century Norwegian writer
- Viktor Fock: Soviet diplomat and Politburo member
- John Fock: American boxer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Peter Fock: Danish motorsport journalist
- Cornelius Fock: Dutch major-general and writer
- Boris Fock: Russian painter and graphic artist