Contents [hide]

Stocks History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Sources

Stocks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

Etymology of Stocks

What does the name Stocks mean?

Stocks is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stocks family lived in Pembrokeshire. Their name, however, is a reference to Stock, near Caen, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Early Origins of the Stocks family

The surname Stocks was first found in Pembrokeshire where they held a family seat from early times. One of the first records of the names was Saint Simon Stock (c. 1165-1265), an English saint who was probably born in Aylesford England. In a vision, The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and gave him the Carmelite habit, the Brown Scapular and promised that those who die wearing it will be saved.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include the following: Baldewin de Stoke in Suffolk; Mariota de Stoke in Huntingdonshire; Robert de Stokes in Oxfordshire; and Seman de Stokes in Northamptonshire. 1

Peter Stokes (died 1399), was a Carmelite friar at Hitchin, Hertfordshire and later after studying at Oxford rose to become a doctor of divinity before 1382. During the religious troubles of that year Stokes acted as the representative of Archbishop Courtenay in the university. 2

"Thomas Stokes, "armiger," and some, if not all, of the members of his family, which included four sons and twelve daughters, were buried in the church of Ashby Ledgers during the 15th century. Adrian Stokes by right of his wife owned the living of Tifiield in 1575." 3

Early History of the Stocks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stocks research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1220, 1569, 1590, 1591, 1626 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Stocks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stocks Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Stocks have been found, including Stoke, Stokes, Stoaks, Stocks and others.

Early Notables of the Stocks family

Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stocks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stocks Ranking

In the United States, the name Stocks is the 5,252^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Stocks family to Ireland

Some of the Stocks family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stocks migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Stocks were among those contributors:

Stocks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Goodman Stocks, who landed in Virginia in 1623 5

Stocks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Stocks, aged 31, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 5
Henry Stocks, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1834 5
Andrew Stocks, aged 37, who arrived in New York, NY in 1893 5

Stocks migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stocks Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Stocks, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Stocks migration to Australia +

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

Stocks Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Samuel Stocks, English convict from Nottingham, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mrs. Elizabeth Stocks, (b. 1805), aged 27, English dress maker who was convicted in Leicestershire, England for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 14th July 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Samuel Stocks (c. 1786-1863), English businessman who co-founded the bleaching firm Stocks and Tait which failed in 1847; he emigrated to Australia abord the "Dorset" in 1843
M. Stocks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Calphurnia" in 1849 8
Edward Stocks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lord Ashburton" in 1850 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stocks 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:

Stocks Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Stocks, (b. 1826), aged 30, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Isabella Hercus" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th January 1856 10
Mrs. Sabina Stocks, (b. 1833), aged 23, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Isabella Hercus" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th January 1856 10
Miss Mary Stocks, (b. 1855), aged 1, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Isabella Hercus" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th January 1856 10
Miss Mary Stocks, (b. 1838), aged 20, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th April 1858 10
Miss Mary Stocks, (b. 1845), aged 21, British cotton Worker travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Stocks (post 1700) +

Tamara Stocks (b. 1979), American professional basketball player
Jack Gilbert Stocks (b. 1934), American land surveyor
Leroy Stocks, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from North Carolina, 1972 11
Jerry Stocks, American Republican politician, Chair of Macon County Republican Party, 2002 11
Lumb Stocks (1812-1892), English line-engraver, son of a Yorkshire coal-owner, born at Lightcliffe, near Halifax
Samuel Stocks Jr. (1812-1850), English-born, Australian businessman and mining business magnate
David Henry Stocks (b. 1943), English former professional association footballer
Mr. Christopher Stocks, British sheriff, held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1539 to 1540
Mr. William John Stocks B.E.M., British Chief Executive for Special Boat Service Association, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for services to Service Personnel 12
Nigel Geoffrey Stocks (b. 1964), English physicist, notable for discovering suprathreshold stochastic resonance (SSR) and its application to cochlear implant technology
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Stocks family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Charles William Stocks (1920-1942), English Able Seaman from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and survived the sinking, was listed as missing in action 1942 13

The Stocks 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: Fortis qui insons
Motto Translation: Innocent fortune.

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fanny
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CALPHURNIA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Calpurnia.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LORD ASHBURTON 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850LordAshburton.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html