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

Acks, 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 Acks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acks in America

Acks is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acks surname appeared 111 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 Acks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Acks 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 Acks

The surname Acks has its roots in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon word "ac," meaning oak tree. This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived near or worked with oak trees.

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Ake." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Additionally, the name is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, further solidifying its English origins.

During the Middle Ages, the name Acks was often associated with place names that contained the word "oak." For instance, the village of Ackworth in Yorkshire derived its name from the Old English words "ac" (oak) and "worth" (enclosure or farm). It is possible that some individuals bearing the surname Acks may have originated from or held land in such places.

Notable individuals with the surname Acks throughout history include Sir Thomas Acks (1545-1619), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another noteworthy figure was John Acks (1680-1754), a renowned clockmaker from London whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy.

In the literary realm, the name appears in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the renowned English poet of the 14th century. In his famous Canterbury Tales, Chaucer mentions a character named "Ake the Miller," suggesting the surname's presence during that era.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Acks include Henry Acks (1712-1783), a respected English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and Mary Acks (1788-1867), a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in rural England.

While the surname Acks may have evolved over time and been subject to various spellings, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon language and the significance of oak trees in English culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acks

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

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 Acks 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 Acks 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 Acks was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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