Pollock/Polk
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Pollock/Polk Surname Genealogy
Pollock is a Scottish place-name in Renfrewshire (near present-day Paisley), derived from the Gaelic poll meaning "pool" or "pit." The family which received these lands in the 12th century took Pollock as their name. The name spread to Ireland in the 17th century. The main spelling variants have been Pollok, Polloc, Polk, and Pogues.
Pollock can also be a form of the German or Jewish Polak, describing someone from Poland. But the Americanized version is generally Pollack.
The shortened version of Pollock, Polk, is common in America. Its use started with Robert Polk, the forebear of the many Polks prominent in its early history. Today there are almost as many Polks as Pollocks.
Scotland. Pollock is one of the oldest family names in Scotland. The Pollocks can trace their origin to Fulbert the Saxon who had come north in the service of Walter Fitzalan, the High Steward of Scotland. Fulbert's son Petrus de Pollock was granted lands in 1163 in Renfrewshire in recompense for his father's service. When Petrus died without male issue, the lands passed to his brother Robertus from whom later Pollocks have been descended.
The Pollocks divided their Pollock estate with the Maxwell clan. Known as Pollock-of-that-Ilk, they remained major landowners in the area. John Pollock forfeited some of his land for supporting Mary Queen of Scots in the fighting during the 1560's. But other Pollocks acquired estates nearby in the following century. Thomas Pollock, who had made money as a merchant in Glasgow, bought Balgray House in 1684 (his son Thomas became a colonial governor in North Carolina); and Alan Pollock took over Arthurlie in 1695 (his son Thomas building Arthurlie House soon after).
The Pollock name extended into Ayrshire. For instance, the firm of Stephen & Pollock, booksellers, was for years one of the best-known stores in Ayr. Hugh Pollock of this family was the first husband of the children's writer Enid Blyton.
England. David Pollock came down from Scotland to London in 1739 and was appointed Saddler to King George III.. He had three distinguished sons:
Ireland. The first Pollock in Ireland is thought to have been the Robert Pollock who took a large grant of land near Coleraine in county Derry in 1608. His family later became Presbyterian and settled in Donegal. A number of repressive measures were taken against these Presbyterians after Charles II's restoration in 1660. To escape this situation, some of them planned emigration to America - including a certain Robert Pollock.
John Pollock, a soldier with Cromwell's army, is thought to have settled in Newry, county Down. Later Pollocks became prominent there in the linen trade. There were also Pollocks in Bangor and Cumber nearby. It was said that two Pollock brothers came to Donegal in the early 1700's, settling on land just north of Stranorlar. A Pollock family has been resident (and still is) in Mountainstown Lodge, Meath since 1780.
From the mid 1700's for various reasons, there began a Scots Irish exodus to America. This included many Pollocks. A number had been in Ireland for generations, others - like John Pollock below - for a much shorter time.
America. There were early Polks and Pollocks in America, as well as some variations on those names. The first appears to have been the Robert Pollock in 1680 who settled on land granted to him in Somerset county, Maryland. This Robert Pollock (or his son William) shortened the family name to Polk and they were the forebears of the illustrious Polk family of America (their history is covered in William Polk's 1999 book Polk's Folly: An American Family History). Descendants included:
Pollocks in America are a mixture of immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, and, later, Jewish Pollocks mainly of Polish origin.
Australia. Robert and Agnes Pollock had emigrated to Australia from Glasgow on the Portland in 1838. They raised four sons and six daughters in Araluen, NSW. These brothers combined in business in 1883 to form Pollock Bros, cordial manufacturers. However, there would appear to have been family disagreements because, within five years, three of the brothers had departed to set up their own manufacturing plants.
Irish Pollocks came to Australia as well, including convicts such as William Pollock from Newry in 1840 and settlers such as Alexander Pollock and his wife Mary Jane from Stranorlar in 1870. Alexander and Mary Jane settled in the Goulbourn valley in Victoria and five of their sons later bought land in the Balldale area.
South Africa. South Africa has had a Pollock cricketing dynasty of recent vintage - batsman Graeme, bowler Peter, and Peter's son allrounder Shaun. An earlier Pollock, Andrew Maclean Pollock, had been a Scottish doctor who had settled in South Africa.
Select Pollock/Polk Miscellany
Select Pollock/Polk Names
Robertus de Pollock was the forebear of the Pollock clan in Scotland.
Robert Polk who came to Maryland from Ireland in the 1680's was the forebear of the illustious Polk family in America.
James Polk was the 11th President of the United States (from 1845 to 1849).
Jackson Pollock was a well-known American abstract expressionist painter. He was brought up in Wyoming where his father had taken the Pollock name from a neighbor who had adopted him.
Sam Pollock of the Montreal Canadiens was one of the most successful NHL executives of all time, leading his side to nine Stanley Cup wins during his fourteen year tenure.
Graeme Pollock was an outstanding South African cricketer of the 1960's and 1970's.
Select Pollocks/Polks Today
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The Origin/Spread of Surnames
Pollock is a Scottish place-name in Renfrewshire (near present-day Paisley), derived from the Gaelic poll meaning "pool" or "pit." The family which received these lands in the 12th century took Pollock as their name. The name spread to Ireland in the 17th century. The main spelling variants have been Pollok, Polloc, Polk, and Pogues.
Pollock can also be a form of the German or Jewish Polak, describing someone from Poland. But the Americanized version is generally Pollack.
The shortened version of Pollock, Polk, is common in America. Its use started with Robert Polk, the forebear of the many Polks prominent in its early history. Today there are almost as many Polks as Pollocks.
Select
Pollock/Polk
Resources on
The
Internet
- Clan Pollock International. Pollock clan website.
- David Pollock the Saddler. David Pollock's antecendants and descendants.
- The Pollock Family. Descendants of Robert Pollock (from Ireland) in Tennessee.
Scotland. Pollock is one of the oldest family names in Scotland. The Pollocks can trace their origin to Fulbert the Saxon who had come north in the service of Walter Fitzalan, the High Steward of Scotland. Fulbert's son Petrus de Pollock was granted lands in 1163 in Renfrewshire in recompense for his father's service. When Petrus died without male issue, the lands passed to his brother Robertus from whom later Pollocks have been descended.
The Pollocks divided their Pollock estate with the Maxwell clan. Known as Pollock-of-that-Ilk, they remained major landowners in the area. John Pollock forfeited some of his land for supporting Mary Queen of Scots in the fighting during the 1560's. But other Pollocks acquired estates nearby in the following century. Thomas Pollock, who had made money as a merchant in Glasgow, bought Balgray House in 1684 (his son Thomas became a colonial governor in North Carolina); and Alan Pollock took over Arthurlie in 1695 (his son Thomas building Arthurlie House soon after).
The Pollock name extended into Ayrshire. For instance, the firm of Stephen & Pollock, booksellers, was for years one of the best-known stores in Ayr. Hugh Pollock of this family was the first husband of the children's writer Enid Blyton.
England. David Pollock came down from Scotland to London in 1739 and was appointed Saddler to King George III.. He had three distinguished sons:
- the eldest, Sir David, who became a judge of the High Court in
Bombay
- Sir Frederick, the eminent lawyer and Lord Chief Baron of the
Exchequer
(and the forebear of a notable line of judges)
- and Sir George, the field marshal who won his victories in Afghanistan (and is commemmorated by the Pollock Medal).
Ireland. The first Pollock in Ireland is thought to have been the Robert Pollock who took a large grant of land near Coleraine in county Derry in 1608. His family later became Presbyterian and settled in Donegal. A number of repressive measures were taken against these Presbyterians after Charles II's restoration in 1660. To escape this situation, some of them planned emigration to America - including a certain Robert Pollock.
John Pollock, a soldier with Cromwell's army, is thought to have settled in Newry, county Down. Later Pollocks became prominent there in the linen trade. There were also Pollocks in Bangor and Cumber nearby. It was said that two Pollock brothers came to Donegal in the early 1700's, settling on land just north of Stranorlar. A Pollock family has been resident (and still is) in Mountainstown Lodge, Meath since 1780.
From the mid 1700's for various reasons, there began a Scots Irish exodus to America. This included many Pollocks. A number had been in Ireland for generations, others - like John Pollock below - for a much shorter time.
"Family tradition says that John Pollock eloped with the
step-daughter of Lord Russell and fled from Scotland to Northern
Ireland. They lived in Northern Ireland for about thirty years
before coming to America in 1800 and settling in Ohio."
America. There were early Polks and Pollocks in America, as well as some variations on those names. The first appears to have been the Robert Pollock in 1680 who settled on land granted to him in Somerset county, Maryland. This Robert Pollock (or his son William) shortened the family name to Polk and they were the forebears of the illustrious Polk family of America (their history is covered in William Polk's 1999 book Polk's Folly: An American Family History). Descendants included:
- many patriots of the
Revolutionary
War
(Polk county in North Carolina is named after Colonel William Polk of
that War)
- the 11th President of the United
States, James Knox Polk
(the expansionist President after whom many counties in the United
States are named)
- the Confederate general
Leonidas Polk
(the son of Colonel William Polk)
- and Senator Trusten Polk of Missouri
(who was expelled from his seat in 1862 for his support for the South
in the Civil War).
"In the 1890's he substituted
electricity for horse motive power and gave Des Moines the second
electric railway in the United States and the fastest railway service
in the country."
Pollocks in America are a mixture of immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, and, later, Jewish Pollocks mainly of Polish origin.
Australia. Robert and Agnes Pollock had emigrated to Australia from Glasgow on the Portland in 1838. They raised four sons and six daughters in Araluen, NSW. These brothers combined in business in 1883 to form Pollock Bros, cordial manufacturers. However, there would appear to have been family disagreements because, within five years, three of the brothers had departed to set up their own manufacturing plants.
Irish Pollocks came to Australia as well, including convicts such as William Pollock from Newry in 1840 and settlers such as Alexander Pollock and his wife Mary Jane from Stranorlar in 1870. Alexander and Mary Jane settled in the Goulbourn valley in Victoria and five of their sons later bought land in the Balldale area.
South Africa. South Africa has had a Pollock cricketing dynasty of recent vintage - batsman Graeme, bowler Peter, and Peter's son allrounder Shaun. An earlier Pollock, Andrew Maclean Pollock, had been a Scottish doctor who had settled in South Africa.
Select Pollock/Polk Miscellany
If you would like to read more, click on the miscellany page for
further stories and accounts:
Select Pollock/Polk Names
Robertus de Pollock was the forebear of the Pollock clan in Scotland.
Robert Polk who came to Maryland from Ireland in the 1680's was the forebear of the illustious Polk family in America.
James Polk was the 11th President of the United States (from 1845 to 1849).
Jackson Pollock was a well-known American abstract expressionist painter. He was brought up in Wyoming where his father had taken the Pollock name from a neighbor who had adopted him.
Sam Pollock of the Montreal Canadiens was one of the most successful NHL executives of all time, leading his side to nine Stanley Cup wins during his fourteen year tenure.
Graeme Pollock was an outstanding South African cricketer of the 1960's and 1970's.
Select Pollocks/Polks Today
- 9,000 in the UK (most numerous in Stirling)
- 15,000 in America (most numerous in Texas)
- 12,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Canada).
Site Map: Select Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames
For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.