Surname Shorrock - Meaning and Origin

Shorrock: What does the surname Shorrock mean?

The surname Shorrock is of English origin and primarily found in the northern county of Lancashire. The name is believed to be topographic, derived from the old English words 'sceor' and 'rocc,' literally translating to 'bright rock.' It likely referred to someone living near a distinctive, vibrant rock or hill. Research indicates that this surname originally denoted persons located in places with rocky terrain. Alternatively, it could mark someone who dwelt near or worked in a quarry. Over time, 'sceor rocc' evolved into 'Shorrock' following the linguistic and phonetic changes through the Middle Ages. As with any surname, various branches of the Shorrock family could have different origins for their name, and it might not have the exact same meaning for all bearers. Genealogical research can further clarify the specific background of different Shorrock lineages.

Shorrock: Where does the name Shorrock come from?

The last name Shorrock is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. In the latest 2018 census data from the UK census, nearly 900 people were found to have the Shorrock surname, with the most of them living in Lancahire.

Outside of the UK, few entries of the last name can be found throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The surname is also surprisingly frequent in Zambia; in 2016, out of the 1.72 million in Zambia at the time, 387 people had the Shorrock surname.

The Shorrock surname may have roots to the Anglo-Saxon culture, coming from an old Anglo-Saxon personal name. The given name Scuruc oven translates to 'the fiery one', which is sometimes attributed as the origin of the surname. Though there is no definite origin of the surname, it is speculated that Shorrocks came from the Lancashire area as a result of Norman Conquest of England from 1066 to 1088.

The surname has taken many forms throughout the years, ranging from Shearrock, Shorick, Shorrock, and many more. Most likely, the spelling of the surname shifted to Shorrock in the 1700s due to new spelling conventions during this period.

Today, the surname Shorrock is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Australia, followed by more small amounts of the surname in the US, Canada, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Shorrock

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Shorrock are Shorerock, Shorrocks, Shorrocks, Shorrack, Shoracks, Sharrock, Sharrocks, Sharacks and Sharkrock.

Shorrock is an English and Scottish surname derived from the French surname ‘Chevreuil’, meaning ‘roe deer’. It is thought to have been derived from ‘l'escher’, which was a Norman nickname for someone with roe deer-like characteristics. It has been thought that the surname may also have been derived from the French surname ‘Cherrier’. Another popular theory is that the surname originated from an Old English occupational name, with ‘scearu’ meaning ‘brush’ and ‘roc’ meaning ‘pitchfork’, as it was once common for the maintenance staff to go by only one name.

Over time, spelling variations often occurred due to a lack of education and knowledge of spelling, with phonetically similar names becoming adopted, such as Sharrock, Sharrocks, Sharacks and Sharkrock. Some other possible variants might include Shorer, Shors, Shore, Shorrack, Shoracks and Shoreys.

These variations indicate that the surname is likely to originate from Old French, possibly with Scandinavian influence, however there is not enough evidence to confirm the exact origin of the surname. Although the root of the surname is still a little murky, it is certain that both the English and the Scottish have adopted this surname, as it is both popular in England and Scotland today.

Famous people with the name Shorrock

• Tim Shorrock: an investigative journalist and author specializing in issues of nationalism, poverty, and U.S. foreign policy.
• Maria Shorrock: a successful commercial artist and designer.
• Jamie Shorrock: a professional footballer from England.
• Mat Shorrock: a professional basketball player from Australia.
• Cliff Shorrock: an Australian documentary film director and producer.
• Mark Shorrock: an English writer, director, and producer.
• Calvin Shorrock: an Australian fiction writer and author.
• Victoria Shorrock: an artist specializing in oil and mixed media.
• Justin Shorrock: an English musician, singer and songwriter.
• Patrick Shorrock: a produciton designer and art director in the film industry.

Other surnames

Shorrocks