Surname Poak - Meaning and Origin
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Poak: What does the surname Poak mean?
The last name Poak is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It derived from the Old English words poak or poc, meaning "evil" or "spiteful". It is suggested that this was a nickname given to a person who was sharp-tongued or malicious. Poak can also be derived from the Old English word pucel, meaning "servant", which was most likely used to describe a man of humble birth.
The last name Poak is typically found in the English counties of Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Norfolk. It is also recorded in Scotland, with a handful of families having the Poak surname in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright.
The name is also seen in some records in India, where it has been carried by members of the Parsi community, who immigrated from Persia in the 16th century. This may suggest a link between the two origins of the name.
The Poak surname's commonly seen variations include Poake, Poke, Poag, Pouke, Pogue, Powke, andProvost.
The bearer of the surname Poak may share a wealth of history and culture related to their name. It is a reminder of the strength, ambition and challenges that have shaped not only their personal ancestry but the history of their communities and nations, too.
Order DNA origin analysisPoak: Where does the name Poak come from?
The last name Poak is most commonly found in the United States. The ethnic origin of this name is believed to be Germanic and it is derived from the Germanic personal name Poppo, which means “little” or “humble.” The name is seen as Poak, Poke, Pook, Puck, or Poake.
In the United States, the most common states Poak is found in are Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. In fact, New York accounts for nearly 70 percent of the Poak population in the U.S. The Poak name can also be found in other states such as Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, and California, but to a much lesser degree.
The Poak surname is also popular in Canada, where it is mainly found in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec. The highest concentration of Poaks in Canada is in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The name is also found in various other countries across Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands. While it is not uncommon to find the Poak surname in Latin American countries as well, the name is relatively rare in this region.
In the United States, the 2000 Census on surnames indicated that the surname Poak is most commonly found among white people of German descent. Therefore, it is assumed that the Poak surname is more popular in communities with strong European heritage.
Variations of the surname Poak
The Poak surname is derived from the ancient Jewish surname, Pozik. It is an occupational name, with the root being "poy" ("carpenter"). There are several variant and spelling variations of the Poak name.
Poak, Pouak, Pouke, Poukeh, Pouek, Pouack, Pouacke, Poack, Poacke, Pooke, Pok, Poke, Poike, Pewke, Poike, Payke, Paek, Paike and Pake are some of the common spelling variations of this surname.
There are also several surnames of similar origin, including Pok, Poik, Puppe, Pobe, F0ak, Park, Peejk, Peacock, Pouck, Pouckh, Pouk, and Peak.
Some of the early records of the Poak family include the first recorded name bearer, Samuel Pozik, who immigrated to London from the German province of Frankfurt in 1700. John Poak, born in Poland in 1725 and immigrated to America in 1745 is another ancestor of the Poak family.
In England, the Poak surname has many branches in the Midlands counties such as Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. In Scotland, the Poak family inhabits mainly the Central Lowlands.
Poak is most common in the United States, where it emerged in the early 19th century with a large number of Germans, Poles, and British who were driven to the New World by powerful political forces in Europe. Poak is also prominent in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Poak
- Jacob Poak: an American television producer and director known for his work on shows such as Big Time Rush, Every Witch Way, and Wizards of Waverly Place.
- Eddie Poak: a professional beard shopper and the founder of avoidthelaservixen.com, an online beard care store.
- Brenden Poak: an MMA fighter and a YouTuber who has received recognition from big names such as ESPN and UFC.
- Harry Poak: an American football player who played for teams such as the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings.
- John Poak: an award-winning photographer who was featured in publications like National Geographic and Time magazine.
- Sophia Poak: an American YouTube star who is best known for her channel ‘Sophia Poak TV’ which has over 1 million subscribers.
- Steve Poak: an American reality TV star and former NFL football player who appeared on the reality show Survivor.
- Celine Poak: an American actress and singer, known for her leading role in the TV Series Geeks & Geezers.
- Chase Poak: an American professional football player who has played for teams such as the Georgia Bulldogs and the Oklahoma Sooners.
- Bart Poak: an American wildlife photographer whose work has been featured in prestigious galleries around the world.