| ![Show Contents]() Rock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of RockWhat does the name Rock mean? The present generation of the Rock family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the village of Rock found in the various locations that existed in Worcestershire, Devon and also in Northumberland. The surname also has topographic origins in that it describes the area where the original bearers lived. In this case they lived at some residence near a large boulder or rock face. Early Origins of the Rock familyThe surname Rock was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Early History of the Rock familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rock research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1378, 1379, 1380, 1407 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rock Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Rock include Rock, Rocks, Roch, Rocke, Rocker, Rooker, Rucker and others. Early Notables of the Rock familyDistinguished members of the family include Rock RankingIn the United States, the name Rock is the 1,662nd most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Rock is ranked the 7,676th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2 Migration of the Rock family to IrelandSome of the Rock family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 103 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Rock migration to the United States | + |
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Rock were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:
Rock Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Anthony Rock, who arrived in Virginia in 1648 3
- Joseph Rock, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1652 3
- Katherine Rock, who arrived in Virginia in 1657 3
- David Rock, who arrived in Virginia in 1661 3
- Richard Rock, who settled in Virginia in 1663
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rock Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Rebecca Rock, who arrived in Virginia in 1722 3
- John Rock, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772
- William Rock, aged 15, settled in Maryland in 1774
- Michael Rock, who arrived in America in 1783 3
Rock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Mary Rock, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 3
- Albert Rock, who arrived in Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Johanna" 3
- Anna Maria Rock, aged 42, who landed in New York, NY in 1846 3
- George Rock, aged 2, who landed in New York, NY in 1846 3
- Carl Rock, aged 7, who arrived in New York, NY in 1846 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rock Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- John Rock, who arrived in Mississippi in 1901 3
- Annie Rock, aged 18, who arrived in America from Queenstown, Ireland, in 1902
- Armah Rock, aged 20, who arrived in America from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1907
- Auguste Rock, aged 31, who arrived in America from Lens, France, in 1907
- Bernard Rock, aged 8, who arrived in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1907
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Rock migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Rock Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- James Rock, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
Rock Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Mr. James Rock, aged 34 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Industry" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 4
- Mr. Richard Rock, aged 19 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Yorkshire" departing 9th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but he died on board 5
| Rock migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Rock Settlers in Australia in the 18th CenturyRock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Charles Rock, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Condor" in 1850 7
- Miss Bridget Rock, (b. 1825), aged 25, Irish country servant who was convicted in Cavan, Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Duke of Cornwall" on 8th July 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
- Richard Rock, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1851 9
- Rose Rock, aged 25, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"
| Contemporary Notables of the name Rock (post 1700) | + |
- John Rock (1825-1866), American, medical doctor, dentist, lawyer, and passionate abolitionist
- Philip J. Rock (1937-2016), American politician, President of the Illinois Senate (1979-1993)
- Joseph Rock (1884-1962), Austrian-American explorer, geographer and botanist
- John Rock (1890-1984), American scientist, one of the inventors of the contraceptive pill
- Chris Rock (b. 1965), American comedian
- Andrew Rock (b. 1982), American runner, 2004 Olympic Gold medal winner
- George F. Rock, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1952 (alternate), 1956; Member of Democratic National Committee from Colorado, 1954
- Edward H. Rock, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1956
- Charles M. Rock, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1888
- C. E. Rock, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1916
- ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Historic Events for the Rock family | + |
- David Rock, British traveler who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
- Kusa Rock, British traveler who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
- Mary Rock, British traveler who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 53)
- Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 94)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONDOR 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Condor.gif
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-cornwall
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CAROLINE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Caroline.gif
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