Barok

One would normally expected this surname to be German, but of Hebrew origins. If so it is derived from the pre-history given name 'Baruch' or the Yidish 'Borekh', both of whom have the same translation of 'blessed' or 'fortunate'. There are many spelling forms of the surname and even more patronymics and these are recorded in almost every European country. These spellings include Baroch, Barosch, Baruch, Barukh, and the patronymics or diminutives Baruchsohn, Boruchson, Borokhov, Borochov, Borochovski, Barochovich, and many others. However in England there is a complication because of a spelling overlap with the locational name Barugh, often pronounced and subsequently spelt, Baruch. This name derives from a Yorkshire village recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as 'Berg' (the hill). Examples of the surname recordings include Ann Barok, (this is almost certainly a dialectal mis-spelling of Barugh) who was married at the church of St James, Duke Street, London, on February 6th 1665, in the year of the 'Great Plague'. Did she survive it? Sadly we don't know. Other recordings perhaps more appropriate were John Barugh in the register of inhabitants of Wandsworth, London, on April 23rd 1655, in the 'reign' of Oliver Cromwell, and Julius Baruch, who married Caroline Jungbluith at St Johns church, Coleman Street, London, on October 26th 1853. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Maria Catharina Barosch, which was dated September 8th 1772, who was born at Phalz, State of Bayern, Germany, during the reign of Emperor Joseph 11 of the German Empire, 1765 - 1790. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.