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

Eke, 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 Eke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eke in America

Eke is the 29403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eke surname appeared 804 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 Eke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eke 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 Eke

The surname Eke has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "eke," meaning "also" or "in addition." This surname may have originally referred to someone who held an additional occupation or role beyond their primary vocation.

Early records show the name appearing in various spellings, such as Eke, Eake, Eeke, and Eyk. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Eke.

The Eke surname is also linked to certain place names in England, particularly in areas like Yorkshire and Lancashire. For instance, the village of Eake in North Yorkshire may have influenced the surname's spelling and distribution.

Notable individuals bearing the Eke surname include John Eke (c. 1500-1555), an English Protestant reformer and translator during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was Samuel Eke (1628-1690), a Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Battersea in Surrey.

In the 17th century, the Eke surname appears in records related to the English Civil War. One example is Thomas Eke (1617-1679), a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause and a member of the English Council of State under Oliver Cromwell.

Venturing into the literary realm, John Eke (1740-1806) was an English poet and writer who published works such as "The Wonderful Museum" and contributed to various periodicals of his time.

Another prominent individual was Sir Samuel Eke (1794-1871), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and played a role in the Battle of Navarino during the Greek War of Independence in 1827.

While these examples showcase the historical presence of the Eke surname, it is important to note that genealogical records and documentation may reveal additional noteworthy individuals or shed further light on the name's origins and evolution over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eke

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

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

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

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