| ![Show Contents]() Pollack History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Pollack. The Pollack family lived at Pollok (Gaelic: Pollag), a large district on the south-western side of the city of Glasgow, home to Crookston Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots, was once held. The name of the town has Gaelic origins, from the word 'poll', meaning "pool" or "pit". Early Origins of the Pollack familyThe surname Pollack was first found in Renfrewshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rinn Friù), a historic county of Scotland, today encompassing the Council Areas of Renfrew, East Renfrewshire, and Iverclyde, in the Strathclyde region of southwestern Scotland, where the first occurrence of the name is Peter, son of Fulbert or Fulburt who was granted the lands of Upper Pollock by the High Steward, and who took the surname from the lands, making him the first Pollock. Peter gave the church of Pulloc and its pertinents to the monastery of Paisley, sometime between 1177 and 1199. Within that same period of time, he also confirmed the charter of his brother Helias of Perthic to the same house. Peter also possessed lands in Moray and circa 1175, he witnessed the charter by William the Lion granting Burgin to the Abbey of Kinlos. 1 Circa 1230, Murial de Polloc, a daughter of Peter, gifted her land of Inuerorkel and all its pertinents for the benefit of the hospital erected beside the bridge of Spey for the reception of travelers. Continuing this pattern of generosity, Robert de Pollok granted to the monastery of Paisley, during the reign of Alexander II, alms of twelve pennies a year from the rents he earned from his lands. Other important Pollocks include John Pollok who was both steward of the Abbey of Arbroath and sheriff of Forfar. 1 In England, Pook was a popular variant and in this case, the family was probably from Puckney Gill in the parish of Charlwood, County Surrey, so called from the Old English word "puca" (goblin) and "eg" (island). 2 The surname is first found in Sussex in 1332 as atte Pukenegh, and occurs also in County Surrey at about the same date. From the fourteenth to the seventeenth century the name was largely confined to a small central area of central Sussex, around West Grinstead. The name was also occasionally used as a nickname 'the puk' from the complexion of hair or dress, a colour between russet and black. 3 William Puch was documented in the year 1166, and appears to be the first of the name on record. William le Puk of County Somerset, was documented during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) and John Pouk was recorded in County Somerset at the same time. 4 Early History of the Pollack familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pollack research. Another 220 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1234, 1272, 1590, 1603, 1660, 1827 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Pollack History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pollack Spelling VariationsThe variation in the spelling of Medieval names is a result of the lack of spelling rules in the English language prior to the last few hundred years. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound, often varying the spelling of name within a single document. Pollack has appeared as Pollock, Pollocke, Polk, Polke, Pollok, Pollick, Polloch, Pook, Pooke, Poock, Pogue, Poag, Poage, Poague, Poak and many more. Early Notables of the Pollack familyMore information is included under the topic Early Pollack Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pollack RankingIn the United States, the name Pollack is the 3,292nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Pollack family to Ireland
Some of the Pollack family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 96 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Pollack migration to the United States | + |
As the persecution of Clan families continued, they sailed for North America in increasing numbers. In most cases, they found the freedom and opportunity they sought. Land was often available and the American War of Independence allowed Scots an opportunity to solidify their independence from the English crown. These settlers and their ancestors went on to play essential roles in the forging of the nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:
Pollack Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Karl Gottlieb Pollack, who landed in America in 1783 6
Pollack Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- William Pollack, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1837 6
- Joseph Pollack, aged 21, who arrived in Missouri in 1847 6
- Isaac Pollack, aged 21, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1854 6
- John Pollack, aged 34, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1868 6
- Ferdinand Pollack, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Pollack (post 1700) | + |
- Rachel Grace Pollack (1945-2023), American science fiction author, comic book writer, and expert on divinatory tarot from Brooklyn, New York
- Kenneth Michael Pollack (b. 1966), American former CIA intelligence analyst and expert on Middle East politics
- James B. Pollack (1938-1994), American astrophysicist who worked for NASA's Ames Research Center
- Eileen Pollack (b. 1956), American novelist, essayist, and short story writer
- Ben Pollack (1903-1971), American drummer and bandleader
- Sydney Pollack (1934-2008), Academy Award-winning American film director, producer and actor
- Neal Pollack (b. 1970), American satirist, novelist and writer
- Lew Pollack (1895-1946), American composer
- Frank L. Pollack (1876-1957), American science fiction writer
- James H. Pollack, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maryland, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1964 7
- ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Historic Events for the Pollack family | + |
USS Arizona - Mr. Francis L. Pollack, American Ship's Cook Third Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 8
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: Audacter et strenue
Motto Translation: Boldly and earnestly.
- 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)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- 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.
- "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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- 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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Pollack migration to the United States 
Israel
Scotland
Ireland
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