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

Buk, 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 Buk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Buk in America

Buk is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Buk surname appeared 104 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 Buk.

The history of the last name Buk

The surname "Buk" is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. Its earliest known spelling variations include "Buk," "Bucke," and "Buke," suggesting a potential derivation from the Old German word "buc," which translates to "beech tree" or "beech wood."

The name is thought to have first emerged as a descriptive term for individuals residing near or associated with beech trees or forests. This connection to nature is a common theme in many early German surnames, reflecting the close relationship between people and their surroundings during that era.

Historical records indicate that the name "Buk" appeared in various medieval documents and manuscripts, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of Saxon diplomatic documents dating back to the 9th century. Additionally, the name is mentioned in the Chronica Slavorum, a 12th-century chronicle detailing the history of the Slavic peoples in the region.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Henricus Buk, a prominent landowner and nobleman who lived in the 13th century. His name is documented in the Annales Colonienses Maximi, a set of medieval annals from the city of Cologne.

Another notable figure was Johannes Buk, a scholar and theologian who lived in the 15th century. He was a member of the University of Leipzig and authored several works on medieval philosophy and theology.

In the 16th century, the name "Buk" gained further recognition with the birth of Caspar Buk (1550-1619), a renowned German composer and organist. His contributions to the development of Lutheran church music were highly influential during the Reformation period.

The name also has ties to various place names and geographical locations throughout Germany. For example, the town of Bucken in the state of Baden-Württemberg is believed to have derived its name from the Old German word "buc," indicating a connection to beech trees or forests in the area.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname "Buk" include Friedrich Buk (1700-1776), a German painter and engraver renowned for his intricate landscapes and architectural renderings, and Johann Buk (1815-1892), a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Prussian Parliament during the 19th century.

Overall, the surname "Buk" has a rich history rooted in the German language and culture, with connections to nature, medieval records, and notable figures across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Buk

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

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 Buk 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!