Explore the Family Name Block
The meaning of Block
1. 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. 2. 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 an 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. 3. Americanized form of Jewish (Ashkenazic) Bloch. History: Adriaen Coertsz Block was a Dutch-born merchant-explorer who traded along the CT coast and Long Island shortly after Hudson’s voyage to the region in 1609. Block Island, between the north fork of Long Island and RI, which he used as a base of operations, is named for him.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Block in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Block" experienced a slight dip between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 1518th in terms of prevalence, but fell to 1658th place in 2010, marking a decrease of 9.22%. Despite this shift in rank, the actual count of individuals with the "Block" surname saw a marginal increase of 0.14%, from 21,686 in 2000 to 21,717 in 2010. As a result, the proportion per 100k people also dropped by 8.46% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,518 | #1,658 | -9.22% |
| Count | 21,686 | 21,717 | 0.14% |
| Proportion per 100k | 8.04 | 7.36 | -8.46% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Block
The ethnicity associated with the surname "Block" also underwent changes between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While a majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (90.69% in 2010, down from 92.41% in 2000), there were noticeable increases in other ethnic identities. The representation of Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 49.02%, and individuals identifying with two or more races rose by 34.13%. There was also a significant boost in Hispanic representation, which grew by 75.00%. However, the proportions of those who identify as Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained relatively steady.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.41% | 90.69% | -1.86% |
| Black | 4.14% | 4.15% | 0.24% |
| Hispanic | 1.36% | 2.38% | 75% |
| Two or More Races | 1.26% | 1.69% | 34.13% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.51% | 0.76% | 49.02% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.33% | 0.33% | 0% |
Block ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Block is Ashkenazi Jewish, which comprises 26.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (25.7%) and French & German (25.1%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 26.1% |
| British & Irish | 25.7% |
| French & German | 25.1% |
| Other | 23.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Block
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Block have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 63.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 63.30% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 63.20% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 63.00% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 63.00% |
What Block haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Block is R-Z367, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z367 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include Q-Y2197 and J-L210, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Klein, Weiss, Stein, Schwartz, Berger, Kramer, Schneider, Hoffman, Simon, Frank.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Block surname are: K1a1b1a, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Block have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Block" Surname 43.9%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Block" Surname 27.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Block" Surname 19.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Block" Surname 15.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Block?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Block are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition