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Block Family History

Block Surname Meaning

German and Dutch: from Middle High German bloch Middle Dutch bloc ‘block (of wood)’ in any of several senses for example a topographic sense denoting a fenced field, a nickname for a large lumpish man, or a metonymic occupational name for a shoemaker or a milliner.

English (mainly Suffolk): descriptive nickname from Middle English blok, bloke, usually meaning either ‘pale, wan, pallid’ (Old English blāc), but perhaps sometimes ‘black’ (of hair or appearance). The name could be interchangeable with the equally ambiguous Black and Blake.

Alternatively, it may be a nickname derived from Middle English blok(ke), bloke ‘block (of wood)’, perhaps for someone thought to be stupid or someone who made or used wooden blocks.

Compare Blocker and 1 above. Americanized form of Jewish (Ashkenazic) Bloch.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Block family from?

You can see how Block families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Block family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Block families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 10 Block families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 26% of all the recorded Block's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Block families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Block surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Block ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Block. 12% of Block men worked as a Farmer and 7% of Block women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Block were Manager and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Block | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    12%
  • Laborer
    10%
  • Salesman
    10%
  • Manager
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    7%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    5%

What Block family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 150,000 census records available for the last name Block. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Block census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Block

Passenger Lists

There are 32,000 immigration records available for the last name Block. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Block immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 30,000 military records available for the last name Block. For the veterans among your Block ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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