Brock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Brock

What does the name Brock mean?

Today's generation of the Brock family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Brock family lived in Essex. The name, however, derives from the family's former residence in Broc, in the area of Anjou, France. 1 Alternatively, the name could have been from the Saxon Broc, meaning a badger. "Broch, in Gaelic or Irish, Cornish-British and Welsh, all have the same meaning." 2

Early Origins of the Brock family

The surname Brock was first found in Essex where Ralph Broc was granted lands in Colchester in 1119, and it is thought he was invited to England to support the need for industrialists and trades people. 3

However, some of the family claim Great Oakley, Northampton as their ancient homestead. "Oakley Hall, the seat of Sir Arthur de Capell Broke, Bart., is a picturesque specimen of an old English manor-house. Sir Arthur is lord of the manor, and possesses a right of free warren, granted shortly after the Conquest. The collection of family deeds is one of the finest and most curious in the kingdom, and in beautiful preservation; the dates of some of them are not much later than William I.'s reign. " 4

Ancient rolls include older spellings of the name and some of the first records of the family's holdings. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Gilbert le Brok, Oxfordshire; Henry le Brok, Devon; Walter le Broc, Gloucestershire; Laurence del Broc, Hertfordshire; Joceus de la Brok, Kent; Geoffrey de la Brok, Kent; and William del Brok, Essex. 5

Kirby's Quest listed Robert le Brokk, Somerset, 1 Edward III; and William le Broc, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 6

Robert le Broc and Ranulph de Broc were listed in the Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, King John. 7

Much further to the north in Scotland, there is a Brock in East Renfrewshire and one of the first records there was Henry Brok who had provision of a canonry and prebend of Dunkeld in 1328. 8

Early History of the Brock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brock research. Another 255 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1220, 1275, 1504, 1539, 1554, 1611, 1619, 1625, 1663, 1687, 1708, 1727, 1739, 1755, 1769 and 1812 are included under the topic Early Brock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brock Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Brock include Broc, Brock, Brocke, Brockes, Brocks, Brock, Brockx, Broch and many more.

Early Notables of the Brock family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Marianus Brockie...

Brock Ranking

In the United States, the name Brock is the 451^st most popular surname with an estimated 62,175 people with that name. 9

Migration of the Brock family to Ireland

Some of the Brock family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brock migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Brocks to arrive on North American shores:

Brock Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Brock, aged 26, who landed in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "George" 10
Richard Brock, who arrived in Maryland in 1635 10
William Brock, who landed in Virginia in 1637 10
John Brock, who arrived in New England in 1637 10
William Brock, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1639 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brock Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Misar Brock, who landed in Virginia in 1701 10
Philip Brock, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 10
Robert Brock, who arrived in Virginia in 1722 10
Rudolph Brock, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 10
Friedrich Brock, who settled in Philadelphia in 1733
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. William Brock, (b. 1798), aged 34, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth aboard the ship “Andromeda” arriving in the United States on 10th May 1832 11
Mr. John Brock, (b. 1805), aged 27, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth aboard the ship “Andromeda” arriving in the United States on 10th May 1832 11
Elisa Brock, who landed in Texas in 1846 10
C Brock, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 10
R Brock, who landed in New York in 1850 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brock Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. William Brock, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Norway, Michigan, USA 12
William A Brock, who arrived in Colorado in 1906 10

Brock migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brock Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Hans Brock who landed in Canada in 1619

Brock Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Michael Brock, aged 45 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "George" departing 13th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 12th June 1847 but he died on board 13

Brock migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Brock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry Brock, English convict who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Mr. Thomas Brock, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
Daniel George Brock, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal Admiral" in 1838 16
Maria Brock, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 17
John Brock, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairfield" in 1839 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brock migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Brock Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Emily Brock, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 19
Child Brock, (b. 1861), aged Infant, Scottish settler, from Edinburgh travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 20
Mrs. Margaret C. Brock, (b. 1832), aged 29, Scottish settler, from Edinburgh travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 20
Mr. John Brock, (b. 1834), aged 27, Scottish mason, from Edinburgh travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 20
Mr. Samuel Brock, (b. 1836), aged 30, Cornish farm labourer departing on 13th July 1866 aboard the ship "Blue Jacket" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 14th October 1866 21
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Brock migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22

Brock Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Lawrence Brock, who settled in Barbados in 1635
Mr. Robert Brock, (b. 1610), aged 25, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 23
Mr. Lawrence Brock,, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 24

Contemporary Notables of the name Brock (post 1700) +

Sir Isaac Brock (1769-1812), British Major-General and administrator, born in Guernsey, killed in the Battle of Queenston Heights, Niagara Falls, Canada
Alice May Brock (1941-2024), American artist, occasional author and former restaurateur
Jacob Brock (1810-1876), American steamboat captain
Jason V. Brock (b. 1970), American writer, artist, editor and filmaker
Jeffrey Brock (b. 1970), American mathematician
Jesse Brock (b. 1972), American artist
Jim Brock (1937-1994), American college baseball coach
Kadar Brock (b. 1980), American artist
Kara Denean Brock (b. 1974), American actress
Kathy Brock (b. 1959), American television personality
... (Another 77 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Brock family +

Bismarck

Karl Brock (1905-1941), German Stabsmaschinist who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 25

USS Arizona

Mr. Walter Pershing Brock, American Seaman First Class from Alabama, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 26

The Brock Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virescit vulnere virtus
Motto Translation: Courage grows stronger at the wound.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
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. 66)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ROYAL ADMIRAL 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838RoyalAdmiral.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Buckinghamshire.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) FAIRFIELD 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Fairfield.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html