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

Ecker, 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 Ecker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ecker in America

Ecker is the 7018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ecker surname appeared 4,772 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Ecker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ecker 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 Ecker

The surname Ecker has its origins in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "ecker," which referred to a plowman or farmer. This suggests that the name was initially associated with agricultural occupations.

During the Middle Ages, the Ecker name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. In those times, surnames were often derived from occupations, physical characteristics, or places of origin. The Ecker name likely emerged as a way to identify individuals with a specific occupation or those residing in areas associated with farming.

One of the earliest documented references to the Ecker name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the year 1283. This record mentions an individual named "Henricus Ecker," suggesting the name's existence during that period.

In the 14th century, the Ecker name appeared in various municipal records across German towns and villages. For instance, in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a certain "Hans Ecker" is mentioned in a document from 1387. This provides evidence of the name's spread and established presence in different regions.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Ecker surname. One such figure was Johann Ecker (1557-1624), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Heidelberg. Another prominent individual was Johann Heinrich Ecker (1732-1808), a German architect known for his work on various churches and public buildings in the region of Baden-Württemberg.

In the 19th century, Carl Ecker (1813-1889) gained recognition as a German zoologist and anatomist. He made significant contributions to the study of comparative anatomy and embryology. Additionally, Johann Ecker (1835-1916), a German painter and illustrator, is remembered for his landscape paintings depicting scenes from the Black Forest region.

Furthermore, the Ecker name has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany. For instance, the town of Eckersmühlen in Bavaria likely derived its name from the Ecker surname, indicating a connection between the name and specific geographical locations.

While the Ecker surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above provide insights into the name's origins and its deep-rooted association with German heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ecker

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

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

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

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