Find out how popular the last name Acken is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Acken.

Acken, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Acken surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acken in America

Acken is the 94730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acken surname appeared 193 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Acken.

We can also compare 2010 data for Acken to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Acken

The surname Acken has its origins in England, specifically in the northern counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, where it first emerged in the 13th century. Derived from the Old English words "ac" meaning oak and "henn" meaning a ridge or hill, the name likely referred to someone who lived near an oak-covered ridge or hilltop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where a John de Aken is mentioned. The "de" prefix indicates the name was initially a locational surname, referring to someone from a specific place. Over time, the spelling evolved to Acken, Aken, and other variations.

In the 15th century, the name Acken can be found in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1465, which were legal records of the time. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname were involved in legal proceedings or held positions of some importance during that period.

The Acken surname has a strong association with the town of Aken, located in Lancashire. This place name, spelled as Aken or Acken in historical records, likely contributed to the surname's development and spread in the region.

Notable individuals with the surname Acken throughout history include:

1. William Acken (1535-1602), an English merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who played a role in the local wool trade.
2. Elizabeth Acken (1620-1688), a Quaker preacher from Lancashire, known for her religious writings and advocacy for women's rights.
3. Richard Acken (1745-1817), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a member of parliament.
4. John Acken (1789-1854), an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Polytechnic Institution.
5. Mary Acken (1871-1938), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's right to vote and social reforms.

While the Acken surname may not be as widely recognized as some others, it has a rich history rooted in the northern counties of England, spanning several centuries and encompassing individuals from various walks of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acken

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Acken.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Acken was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Acken has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Acken was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Acken, please contact us.

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