Surname Bloch - Meaning and Origin

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Bloch: What does the surname Bloch mean?

The last name Bloch is a German and Jewish surname that originated from Germany, Israel, and Poland, and is still found in many other countries around the world. As a Jewish name, Bloch typically references the biblical figures of Beit-Tzvi or Beit Levi.

The literal translation of Bloch is “two persons,” which translates into cultural reference to a shared space, idea, or concept. To the Jewish people, the shared concept is often found in the idea of communal living, which also ties into the practice of Yichud or communal prayer.

In German-speaking countries, Bloch was often used as a nickname, describing people who had a black-haired appearance. Later, it was adapted to mean one who was fair-haired by adding the ‘L’ prefix.

In terms of the modern world, Bloch is a popular modern surname, and can be found all over the world. It is often found in Jewish families, and in other families of German descent. Members of this surname group often share the same traditional values and beliefs, such as community and family. They tend to have a strong sense of Jewish pride to hold on to their ancestors’ heritage.

Bloch: Where does the name Bloch come from?

The last name Bloch is most commonly found in Jewish communities around the world, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Israel.

In Germany, the surname is found more often than anywhere else. In Israel, it is the 151st most common surname and is second to none in terms of popularity among Jewish residents. Additionally, it is among the most popular surnames in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and even Poland, where the name has a long and established history.

In the United States, the last name Bloch is quite common, accounting for around 66,000 individuals. It is also the 626th most common last name in Canada. Canada's Jewish population is growing, meaning the last name Bloch is becoming more widespread as well.

Outside of Europe and North America, the last name Bloch is especially popular in South African countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa, where the Jewish diaspora is thought to have arrived over 200 years ago.

Bloch is also found in Australia, where it's one of the most popular Hebrew surnames. The same is true for the United Kingdom.

All in all, the last name Bloch has a long and storied history and is still quite common today.

Variations of the surname Bloch

The surname Bloch is of Germanic origin and can be spelled in many different ways. These variants include Block, Bloeck, Blöck, Block Liu, Blumeck, and Blokker.

Bloch can also be spelled as Bloxham, Blutics, and Blockx, which may have been adopted by immigrants as their surnames.

In some cases, the family name was adopted by Jews trying to hide their Jewish heritage, and as such, is spelled differently than the Germanic version, such as Blocki, Bloeckstein, Blochowitz, Blochman, or Blochmann.

In certain countries, the surname Blich, Blik, and Blikman are all variants of the same name. These spellings stem from the Yiddish spelling of Bloch, which was used by many Jewish immigrants.

When English-speaking countries adopted surnames, the spelling of the surname Bloch could also be altered, leading to the spellings Bloecke, Bloes, Blois, and Bloose.

Other obscure versions of the surname include Block-Scher, Blyck, and Bluksa.

An additional variant of the surname Bloch is Bletsch, which is predominately found in Mexico and the United States. This spelling was adopted by Mexican-American immigrants who may have Anglicized their surnames from Bloch.

No matter the spelling or language, the surname Bloch often refers to the same Germanic origin.

Famous people with the name Bloch

• Alfred Bloch: A French painter, best known for his portraits and landscapes of his native Provence.
• Adolphe Bloch: A renowned French sculptor, engraver and medalist.
• Benny Bloch: An American songwriter, producer and arranger.
• Benjamin Bloch: An Austrian swimmer and Olympic gold medalist.
• Bentzion Bloch: An Israeli cross-country skiing pioneer, who represented Israel at the World Championships and the Olympics in the 1950s and was a multi-time medal winner in cross country skiing competitions.
• Bob Bloch: An American crime and horror film actor.
• Brad Bloch: An American basketball player, who was a part of the 1987-88 Oklahoma Sooners squad that won the NCAA Championship.
• Carlo Bloch: An Italian opera singer and composer.
• Carlo Bloch: A Swiss artist, best known for his engravings of landscapes, and his tribute to The Art of Peace.
• David Bloch: An Austrian actor and writer, who was active during the Weimar era.
• Ernst Bloch: A German-American philosopher, best known for his work on the philosophy of history, and for contributing to the development of Marxist philosophy and utopian socialism.
• Franz Bloch: An Austrian painter and printmaker.
• Max Bloch: A German painter and graphic artist, who was associated with the Munich Secession movement.
• Raymond Bloch: A French poet, educator and anarchist.
• Robert Bloch: An American author known for his many crime and horror fiction novels, as well as his screenwriting for such films as Psycho and Black Sabbath.
• Sacha Bloch: An Austrian-French filmmaker, cinematographer, and director, best known for directing the documentaries Things as They Are and Boys Are Not Sheep.
• Sigmund Bloch: An American concert violist and music educator.
• Yitzhak Bloch: An Israeli politician and soldier, who served in the Knesset and was a member of the Labor Party.

Other surnames

BlochelBlocherBlöcherBlochingBlochingerBlöchingerBlöchlBlöchleBlochmannBlockBlöckBlockerBlöckerBlocker/Blocher/PlocherBlockertBlöckertBlöcklBlöckner