Bullock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Bullock surname is derived from the Middle English word "bullok," from the Old English "bulluc," which refer to a "young bull." As a name, it most likely evolved from a nickname for an exuberant young man, or a metonymic occupational name for a keeper of bullocks. 1 2

Early Origins of the Bullock family

The surname Bullock was first found in Roxburghshire where one of the earliest records of the name was Adam Bulloc who witnessed an agreement the abbot and the monks of Newbattle c. 1250. A few years later, Richard Bullock was slain at the Battle of Cambok in 1278. 3

"The name was probably introduced from England, and in the fourteenth century there was 'a family of sailors of the name trading between English and Scottish port.' " 3

"William Bulloc was attorney for the provost of Haddington, 1329. Another William Bullok, 'an ecclesiastic of obscure birth but great military talent was prominent in the early part of the reign of David 11, but eventually falling under suspicion was confined in a squalid dungeon in Lochindorb Castle to die of cold and hunger in 1346. Robert Bullock, custumar of Aberdeen, 1358-1370 may be the Robert Bullok who witnessed a deed of sale, 1383. " 3

Balloch Castle was north-east of the village of Kenmore, Perth and Kinross and was built in 1552. In the early 19th century, Balloch Castle was demolished by the Campbells of Breadalbane so that a new much larger castle could be built.

Further to the south in England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed a wide variety of spellings and locations: Alan Bulloc, Lincolnshire; Ralph Bullokke, Norfolk; Godwin Bulloc, Suffolk; Richard Bulluc, Oxfordshire; and William Bolloc, Oxfordshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Walterus Bullok as holding lands there at that time. 4

Early History of the Bullock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bullock research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1444, 1446, 1454, 1464, 1520, 1521, 1526, 1580, 1586, 1590, 1604, 1616, 1622, 1641, 1642, 1657, 1690, 1692, 1724, 1730, 1740, 1777 and 1931 are included under the topic Early Bullock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bullock Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bullock, Bullocke, Bulloch, Bullok, Bulloc and others.

Early Notables of the Bullock family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Henry Bullock (d. 1526), an English divine, educated at the university of Cambridge. George Bullock (1521?-1580?), was a Catholic divine, born in or about 1521. It has been conjectured that he receive...
Christopher Bullock (1690?-1724), was an English actor and dramatist, spoken of in the playbills as Bullock, junior, was the son of William Bullock (1657?-1740?), also an actor
Archibald Bullock (1730-1777), Revolutionary Governor of Georgia in 1777, great-great-grandfather of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States

Bullock Ranking

In the United States, the name Bullock is the 605^th most popular surname with an estimated 49,740 people with that name. 5 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Bullock is ranked the 559^th most popular surname with an estimated 11,587 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Bullock family to Ireland

Some of the Bullock 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.

Bullock migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bullock Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Bullock, who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Jonathan" 7
Thomas Bullock who settled in Virginia in 1624
George Bullock, who settled in Virginia in 1635
Anto Bullock, aged 19, arrived in Bermuda, (Somers Islands) in 1635 aboard the ship "Truelove" 7
Francis Bullock, aged 26, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Globe" 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bullock Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Edward Bullock, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 7
Edward Bullock, who landed in Virginia in 1722 7
Ezekiel Bullock, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 7
Margaret Bullock, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 7

Bullock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J H Bullock, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 7
David Bullock, who arrived in Texas in 1835 7
Allen C Bullock, who landed in Texas in 1835 7
William, Bullock Jr., who landed in New York in 1836 7
James Bullock, who landed in Utah in 1850 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bullock Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Harry Bullock, (b. 1879), aged 21, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th April 1900 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA 8
Mr. Bullock, (b. 1881), aged 20, Cornish labourer St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 27th March 1901 en route to New York, USA 8
Mr. Arthur Bullock, (b. 1875), aged 26, Cornish labourer, from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th July 1901 en route to Butte, Montana,USA 8
Mr. William J. Bullock, (b. 1857), aged 46, American engineer returning from Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 28th March 1903 en route to Niagra Falls, New York, USA 8
Mr. Henry Bullock, (b. 1879), aged 24, Cornish miner, from St. Dennis, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th October 1903 en route to Ramey, Pennsylvania, USA 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bullock migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bullock Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Bullock, who landed in Canada in 1820

Bullock migration to Australia +

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

Bullock Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Joseph Bullock, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 20th March 1790, sentenced for 7 years for breaking and entering into the house of Nathaniel Lang, transported Atlantic" on 27th March 1791 to New South Wales, Australia 9

Bullock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Bullock, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Richard Bullock, (Bunn, Thomas), English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Henry Bullock, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Robert Bullock, (b. 1812), aged 20 who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Circassian" on 4th November 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Mr. Edgar Bullock, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Enchantress"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bullock 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:

Bullock Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Brooks H. Bullock, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Stately" in 1851
Mr. Brooks H Bullock, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st June 1851 15
Mr. Joseph Bullock, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th October 1863 15
Thomas Bullock, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1863
Thomas Bullock, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bullock 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. 17

Bullock Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Edmond Bullock, aged 29, who landed in Barbados in 1682 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Bullock (post 1700) +

Anna Mae Bullock (1939-2023), birth name of Tina Turner, American Hall of Fame singer and actress named "one of the greatest singers of all time" by Rolling Stone, she received 12 Grammy Awards and three Grammy Hall of Fame awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Jim J. Bullock (b. 1955), American comedian, stage, television and film actor
Hiram Law Bullock (1955-2008), American jazz funk and jazz fusion guitarist
Theodore Holmes Bullock (1915-2005), American scientist and educator
Harvey Bullock (1921-2006), American television and film writer and producer
Robert D. "Bob" Bullock (b. 1929), American politician, Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1991-1999)
Seth Bullock (1849-1919), Canadian-born, American Western sheriff, hardware store owner and U.S. Marshal
Sandra Annette Bullock (b. 1964), American Golden Globe Award and Academy Award winning film actress
Wynn Bullock (1902-1975), American photographer
Alexander Hamilton Bullock (1816-1882), American politician, Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts, 1859; Governor of Massachusetts, 1866-69 18
... (Another 62 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bullock family +

Fraterville mine

Mr. John Bullock Jr. (d. 1902), "Bulloock", American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 19

HMS Hood

Mr. William F Bullock (b. 1920), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from St Peter Port, Guernsey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20
Mr. Henry W Bullock (b. 1900), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Holborn, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20
Mr. Edward H Bullock (b. 1922), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Cross-in-Hand, Sussex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Edwin Francis Bullock (b. 1883), Welsh coal miner from Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died

The Bullock 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: Nil conscire sibi
Motto Translation: Conscious of no wrong

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 8th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/circassian
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/enchantress
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm