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

Eck, 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 Eck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eck in America

Eck is the 4618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eck surname appeared 7,681 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Eck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eck 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 Eck

The surname "Eck" is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest known occurrences dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "ecke," which translates to "corner" or "edge." This suggests that the name may have been initially attributed to individuals who lived near a prominent corner or the edge of a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Eck" can be found in the historical records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Konrad Eck is mentioned as a prominent citizen in the year 1292. This suggests that the name had already gained recognition in various parts of Germany by the late medieval period.

In the 15th century, the surname "Eck" appeared in several manuscripts and chronicles, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. One notable figure from this era was Johann Eck, a prominent theologian and professor at the University of Ingolstadt, who lived from 1486 to 1543. He is best known for his public debates with Martin Luther, which played a significant role in shaping the Protestant Reformation.

As the name spread across different regions of Germany, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as "Ecke," "Eckert," and "Eckhart." These variations often reflected local dialects and linguistic traditions.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the surname "Eck" was Johann Friedrich Eck, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1763 to 1812. His works were highly regarded in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and he is considered one of the finest engravers of his time.

In the 19th century, the surname "Eck" gained prominence in the United States, as many German immigrants settled in various parts of the country. One notable American bearing this surname was Johann Eck, a German-born businessman and real estate developer who lived from 1827 to 1892 and played a significant role in the development of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Another prominent figure with the surname "Eck" was Arnold Eck, a German-American artist and illustrator who lived from 1884 to 1963. He is renowned for his contributions to the Art Nouveau movement and his work as a book illustrator.

While the surname "Eck" has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including other European countries and the Americas, where it continues to be associated with its Germanic heritage and the rich history of its earliest bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eck

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

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

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

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