Schrock
A surname most likely from a German nickname or dialect word, probably connected with something rough, abrupt, or startling.
The #3,386 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 29,268 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Schrock is best understood as a German surname from a nickname or descriptive word, rather than a place-name or occupation. The form is likely connected with German dialect words related to a sudden fright, shock, or roughness, though the exact source is not fully secure from the evidence here. In surname use, such names often began as a descriptive label for a person’s manner, temper, or appearance.
History
The name is found among German-speaking families and later appears in the United States through immigration. In modern American records it is relatively uncommon, but it follows a familiar pattern of short German surnames that were preserved with little spelling change. Because the historical excerpt provided is incidental rather than a true dictionary entry, the etymology should be treated as probable rather than certain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Its spelling looks a lot like the English word “shrock” would sound, but the surname is German and not directly related to the English verb “shrink” or the noun “shock.”
From the historical record
“4. Merz. Wir trunken Coffee, erwarteten unsere Wagens, welchen wir Vorspann geschickt hatten, wovou einer gegen 1 1 Uhr erschien. Es war ein rauher, kalter Morgen, jedoch resolvirten wir dies schrock- liche Quartier zu verlassen und machten uns fertig weiter zu gehen; Es war gar kein Weg zu sehen, und wir waren…”
— Studies in Pennsylvania German Family NamesNotable people named Schrock
- Richard R. Schrock (b. 1945)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.