Surname Pollok - Meaning and Origin
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Pollok: What does the surname Pollok mean?
The surname Pollok is of Scottish origin, and it is primarily derived from a place called Pollok in Glasgow, Scotland. This place name is believed to have been derived from the Gaelic term 'Pollag', which means 'a pool' or 'a pit'. In Scotland, the Pollok family was known as wealthy landowners, with their notable property being the Pollok Estate which is currently the site of the Burrell Collection museum. Over the years, the surname has seen various spellings including Pollock, Polleck, Polloc, and others. This variation in spelling often happened when families migrated to different countries and adapted the spelling to fit the phonetics of the local language. Hence, the name Pollok can be considered an indicator of geographical origin, tracing back one's lineage to the region around Glasgow, Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisPollok: Where does the name Pollok come from?
The last name Pollok is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the southeastern region of Glasgow. Pollok is considered to be a Scottish habitational name, derived from a location in Renfrewshire. Traditionally, the Pollok surname has been an uncommon one in Scotland, given its close ties to the Pollok family estate, which was only held by one family for many generations. However, in recent times, it has become more widespread, particularly amongst those who have relocated from the Glasgow area.
Today, Pollok can also be found in many other countries. Pollok families have emigrated to Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Though it is still not as common as other Scottish surnames, there is a growing presence of Pollok families in these countries. Records show that the Pollok family had been among the first to migrate from Scotland in the mid-nineteenth century, helping to establish many of the initial Pollok family enclaves in these countries.
Additionally, Pollok is a relatively common name in many Asian countries, such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The name is believed to have been adopted by many former sailors, who had traveled to India during the British colonial period and married into local families. Thus, today, Pollok has a presence in many countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Pollok
The surname Pollok is an anglicized version of the Scottish surname Pollock. It is a habitational name derived from a place called Pollok in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is also associated with the title ‘Pollok’ which was held by the lords of Pollok, an ancient lordship in the district of Renfrewshire, and is believed to have been derived from the Gaelic ‘poll’ meaning ‘pool’ or ‘lagoon’ and ‘toc’ (a diminutive form of ‘tughadh’) meaning ‘house’.
Variants of the surname Pollok include Pollock, Pollex, Polvogel, Pollogk, and Pollog. Many different spelling variants also exist, such as Pollek, Pollik, Pollec, Pollik, Polliche, Pollyoke, Pollecke, Polleche, Pollexick, and Pollecek. In some cases, the ‘L’ in Pollok is replaced with an ‘R’ to produce the spelling Pollrock, and in some cases the spelling is reversed to give the surname Kollop.
There are also several surnames derived from this one, such as Puallok, Pualloch, Puollocks, Pullock, Pullockes, and Pullockson. Some family lines will also have Italian forms of the surname, such as Polleka or Pollacci.
The Pollok surname has spread across the world, with families bearing it in places such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and the United States. It is commonly found in Scotland, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and England, where it is most numerous in its original form of Pollok.
Famous people with the name Pollok
- Angus Pollok: Scottish actor who had roles in the films Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, War Horse, and The Mummy Returns.
- Walter Pollok: English politician who served as Member of Parliament for South West Leicester in 1886.
- Edward Pollok: Australian soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions in far north of France during World War I.
- Sir Robert Pollok: Scottish poet and author of the work The Course of Time, which is said to be the best-selling poem in English literature of the 19th century.
- William Pollok: Scottish painter and architect who painted the portrait of William IV.
- Thomas Pollok: English landscape painter who was best known for his views of places like the Lake District and North Wales.
- Philip Pollok: English cricket player who made one first-class appearance for Hampshire in the 1790s.
- Sir William Pollok: British Politician who was a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Rye in the mid-1800s.
- Clark Pollok: American musician who founded the jazz band BLT in the late 1970s.
- Susan Pollok: US journalist and author who has written extensively on Russian literature, culture, and current events.