Meaning & History
Etymology
Jock is a Scottish diminutive form of Jack, which itself originated as a medieval diminutive of John. The name is closely linked to the Scottish variant Seoc. In England, the equivalent is Jack, but in Scots, Jock emerged as the common vernacular form. Over time, it became a generic slang term for a Scotsman, particularly among the English.
Notable Bearers
Several individuals have borne the name Jock in various fields. In the arts, Jock Bartley is an American rock guitarist; Jock Gaynor (1929–1998) was an American actor and producer; Jock Macdonald (1897–1960) was a Scottish-born Canadian painter; Jock McFadyen (born 1950) is a British painter; Jock Mahoney (1919–1989) was an American actor and stuntman; Jock Purdon (1925–1998) was a British poet and songwriter; Jock Reynolds (born 1947) is an American museum administrator; Jock Soto (born c. 1965) is a former American ballet dancer; and Jock Sturges (born 1947) is an American photographer. Many of these bearers, like their English Jack counterparts, may not have been given the name at birth.
Cultural Significance
In colloquial British English, "Jock" is a nickname for a person of Scottish origin, and Scottish soldiers are collectively referred to as "the Jocks," similar to the regional variants for other nationalities. The name also appears in the variants Jockie and Jocky, which serve as diminutives.
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Jock (given name)