Show ContentsBlock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Block surname are uncertain, but some scholars suggest that the source of the name is the Old English term "bloc," and that the name was originally occupational for "one who blocks," such as a shoemaker or bookbinder.

Early Origins of the Block family

The surname Block was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat with estates in that shire. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. The first found reference to the Block surname was in the year 1199 when Robert Bloc was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Wiltshire.

Early History of the Block family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Block research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1212, 1275, 1327, 1359, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Block History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Block Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Block were recorded, including Bloggs, Blogg, Block, Blocks, Blox, Blogs and others.

Early Notables of the Block family

More information is included under the topic Early Block Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Block Ranking

In the United States, the name Block is the 1,756th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [1]


United States Block migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Block family emigrate to North America:

Block Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Steeven Block, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport" [2]
  • William Block, aged 23, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 [2]
  • Hans Block, aged 44, who landed in New York in 1662 [2]
  • Albert Block, who settled in Maryland in 1673
  • Elizabeth Block, who arrived in Maryland in 1680
Block Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Frances Block, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 [2]
  • Johannes Block, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 [2]
  • Michel Block, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 [2]
  • John Henry Block, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1769 [2]
  • Mr Block, who landed in America in 1783 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Block Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Lazarus Block, who landed in North America in 1832 [2]
  • Simon Jonas Block, aged 35, who landed in Harford County, Maryland in 1835 [2]
  • Simon J Block, aged 35, who arrived in Harford County, Maryland in 1837 [2]
  • Charles Block, who settled in Galveston, TX in 1839
  • John C H D Block, aged 23, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Block Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Isidore Block, who landed in Alabama in 1918 [2]

Canada Block migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Block Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Johann Block, who arrived in Canada in 1783

Australia Block migration to Australia +

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

Block Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Block, British Convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [3]
  • Margaret Block, aged 28, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "British Empire" [4]
  • Margaret Block, aged 28, a servant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Empire" in 1850 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Block (post 1700) +

  • Herbert Lawrence Block (1909-2001), American editorial cartoonist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Kenneth Paul Block (1967-2023), American professional rally driver with the Hoonigan Racing Division, one of the co-founders of DC Shoes, killed in a snowmobile rollover
  • Lawrence Block (b. 1938), American crime writer
  • Hunt Block (b. 1953), American actor
  • Lawrence J Block (b. 1951), American federal judge on the United States Court of Federal Claims
  • Rory Block (b. 1949), American blues singer and guitarist
  • Doug Block (b. 1954), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Mayor of Rockford, Illinois, 2009 [5]
  • Dennis H. Block, American Republican politician, Candidate for Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, 1977 [5]
  • Charles H. Block (1885-1978), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 6th District, 1945-48 [5]
  • Charles H. Block, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 54th District, 1903-06 [5]
  • ... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Ivan Lee Block, American Pharmacist's Mate Second Class from New Mexico, 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 [6]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITISH EMPIRE 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850BritishEmpire.htm
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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