Nock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Nock is thought to come from the Middle English phrase "atten okes," meaning "at the oaks;" as such it was likely originally a name for someone who lived by some oak trees. 1
"Aten Oke and Atten Oke were the original forms. When the preposition began to be dropped from this class of surnames, the final N in this instance adhered to the designation of the tree, and we obtained the form Noake, since pluralized into Noakes." 2
Early Origins of the Nock family
The surname Nock was first found in Buckinghamshire where they held a family seat. This ancient Saxon name in derived from common usage from atte en Oak, a place designation, which originated in those counties surrounding London known as the home counties. including Sussex, Essex, and others. 3 4
By 1326 the name was well entrenched in that region and Richard Attenok is recording with estates in Buckingham in 1275, and was succeeded by Richard Noke. 1
John atte Noke was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327 and Robert atte Nokes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1332. 5
Early History of the Nock family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nock research. Another 43 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1662, 1690, 1692, 1719 and 1737 are included under the topic Early Nock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Nock Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Nokes, Noakes, Knoakes, Noke, Noak, Knoak, Noaks, Nokes, Knokes, Nowkes, Noekes and many more.
Early Notables of the Nock family
Distinguished members of the family include James Nokes (Noke, Noak, Noakes) (died 1692), an English actor, whose laughter-arousing genius was well known. He was one of the male actors who played female roles in the newly reopened playhouses shortly after the Restoration of Charles II. But, that practice did not last long as in 1662, Charles II ordered that only women should play female roles.
William Noake (1690-1737), was a...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nock Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Nock Ranking
In the United States, the name Nock is the 8,364th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6
Nock migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Nock Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Thomas Nock, who arrived in New Hampshire in 1666 7
- William Nock, who arrived in Maryland in 1670 7
Nock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Charles Nock, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 7
Nock migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Nock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. James Nock, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
- Mr. Thomas Nock who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Duchess of Northumberland" on 1st October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Nock 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:
Nock Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Thomas Nock, aged 38, a bricklayer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
- Maria Nock, aged 37, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
- Maria Nock, aged 16, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
- David Nock, aged 12, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
- Mary Ann Nock, aged 9, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Nock (post 1700) +
- George Verdell Nock (1946-2020), American professional football running back for the New York Jets (1969-1971) and the Washington Redskins (1972)
- Nicholas N. Nock, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Bel Air, Maryland, 1899-1904 10
- Mary L. Nock, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from Wicomico County, 1947-54; Member of Maryland State Senate, 1955-74; Candidate for Presidential Elector for Maryland, 1956 10
Citations +
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duchess-of-northumberland
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html