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Rock History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Rock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

Languedoc is the region of ancient France from which the name Rock was derived. It comes from when the family lived in La Rocque, in l'Herault, Languedoc.

Early Origins of the Rock family

The surname Rock was first found in Languedoc where the family has held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Rock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rock research. Another 460 words (33 lines of text) covering the years 1090, 1112, 1132, 1280, 1303, 1372, 1500, 1541, 1550, 1581, 1582, 1620, 1704, 1709, 1746, 1760 and 1762 are included under the topic Early Rock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rock Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Rock is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include La Roque, Roque, De Roque, du Roque, Rocque, La Rocque, du Rocque, Larocque, Laroc, Roquebrune and many more.

Early Notables of the Rock family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was John Rocque (1704-1762), originally Jean, a French-born British surveyor and cartographer, best known for his detailed map of London published in 1746. He was one...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rock Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rock Ranking

In the United States, the name Rock is the 1,662^nd most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Rock is ranked the 7,676^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Rock migration to the United States +

France was active as a cultural leader in the early 16th century. One particular area in which they lead was the exploration of the New World. The explorers, like Jacques Cartier in 1534, led the way to North America. Champlain, in 1608, made the first of twenty voyages to France to attract settlers and brought the first migrant in 1617. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec, and the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 500. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The family name Rock has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Rock were

Rock Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Anthony Rock, who arrived in Virginia in 1648 3
Joseph Rock, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1652 3
Katherine Rock, who arrived in Virginia in 1657 3
David Rock, who arrived in Virginia in 1661 3
Richard Rock, who settled in Virginia in 1663
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rock Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Rebecca Rock, who arrived in Virginia in 1722 3
John Rock, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772
William Rock, aged 15, settled in Maryland in 1774
Michael Rock, who arrived in America in 1783 3

Rock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Rock, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 3
Albert Rock, who arrived in Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Johanna" 3
Anna Maria Rock, aged 42, who landed in New York, NY in 1846 3
George Rock, aged 2, who landed in New York, NY in 1846 3
Carl Rock, aged 7, who arrived in New York, NY in 1846 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rock Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Rock, who arrived in Mississippi in 1901 3
Annie Rock, aged 18, who arrived in America from Queenstown, Ireland, in 1902
Armah Rock, aged 20, who arrived in America from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1907
Auguste Rock, aged 31, who arrived in America from Lens, France, in 1907
Bernard Rock, aged 8, who arrived in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rock migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rock Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Rock, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750

Rock Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. James Rock, aged 34 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Industry" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 4
Mr. Richard Rock, aged 19 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Yorkshire" departing 9th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but he died on board 5

Rock migration to Australia +

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

Rock Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Michael Rock, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6

Rock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Charles Rock, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Condor" in 1850 7
Miss Bridget Rock, (b. 1825), aged 25, Irish country servant who was convicted in Cavan, Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Duke of Cornwall" on 8th July 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Richard Rock, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1851 9
Rose Rock, aged 25, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"

Contemporary Notables of the name Rock (post 1700) +

John Rock (1825-1866), American, medical doctor, dentist, lawyer, and passionate abolitionist
Philip J. Rock (1937-2016), American politician, President of the Illinois Senate (1979-1993)
Joseph Rock (1884-1962), Austrian-American explorer, geographer and botanist
John Rock (1890-1984), American scientist, one of the inventors of the contraceptive pill
Chris Rock (b. 1965), American comedian
Andrew Rock (b. 1982), American runner, 2004 Olympic Gold medal winner
George F. Rock, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1952 (alternate), 1956; Member of Democratic National Committee from Colorado, 1954
Edward H. Rock, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1956
Charles M. Rock, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1888
C. E. Rock, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1916
... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rock family +

SS Atlantic

David Rock, British traveler who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Kusa Rock, British traveler who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mary Rock, British traveler who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

The Rock 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: Deo vero et honori
Motto Translation: God and the honor

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 53)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 94)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONDOR 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Condor.gif
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-cornwall
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CAROLINE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Caroline.gif