Sok
A rare surname with uncertain origins, most likely a short form or phonetic spelling found in several European naming traditions.
The #7,295 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 67,574 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical excerpts do not give a direct derivation for Sok itself, and the name is too short to pin to one source with confidence. In some families it may be a reduced or altered form of a longer surname; in others it may reflect a name of independent origin in a Central European or East Asian language. Because the spelling is very brief and widespread across languages, several different etymologies are possible.
History
The surname appears to be relatively uncommon in the United States. Historical surname dictionaries in the provided material mention the spelling only in passing, not as a principal headword, so they do not establish a single documented origin. In modern use, Sok is found in more than one linguistic and immigrant context, which makes any one-line ancestry claim risky.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it is so short, Sok can be especially hard to trace: the same spelling may come from unrelated family lines in different countries.
From the historical record
“Elena la Sore, co. Soms., 1373. A. Roger le Sok, co. Soms., i Edw. Ill : Kirby's Qfitil, p. 258. William le Don, co. Wilts, 1273, A. Robert le Brune, c. 1300. M.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances