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

Ekeren, 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 Ekeren surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Ekeren in America

Ekeren is the 142819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ekeren surname appeared 107 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ekeren.

The history of the last name Ekeren

The surname EKEREN originates from Belgium, particularly from the northern regions of the country where Dutch is the primary language. It is believed to have first appeared in the medieval period, likely around the 12th century. The name EKEREN is derived from the name of a village in the province of Antwerp, known today as Ekeren. This village’s name has evolved over the centuries, with old spellings including Aecdern and Eecdre around the early medieval period.

The etymology of the name traces back to the Old Dutch words 'eka' meaning 'oak' and 'ern' meaning 'place or region', together translating to "place of oaks." This suggests that the area was once heavily forested with oak trees, an aspect that significantly influenced its name. Historic references to Ekeren can be found in documents dating as far back as the 12th century, when it was first mentioned in abbey records that documented land grants and local administration.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname EKEREN appears in the 14th century, with a notable individual being Jan van EKEREN, a local landowner born in 1362 who played a part in the administrative affairs of the Antwerp province. Another historical figure was Pieter EKEREN, born in 1401, who was known to have fought in regional feuds and maintained loyalty to the local duchy.

In the 16th century, the name gained further recognition with Anne de EKEREN, born in 1538, who married into the influential de Clercq family of Antwerp, thus cementing connections between local nobility. In the 17th century, records show a Cornelius van EKEREN, a merchant born in 1620, who was instrumental in expanding trade routes to the burgeoning port city of Antwerp.

The 18th century saw Adriana van EKEREN, born in 1710, as a notable philanthropist in Ekeren village; she was revered for her contributions to the construction of local schools and hospitals. Lastly, an influential 19th-century figure was Johan EKEREN, born in 1823, who played a critical role in Belgium’s early industrialization by establishing one of the first textile mills in the Antwerp province.

The surname EKEREN thus carries a rich history entwined with the northern regions of Belgium, evolving through centuries of social and economic transformations. Its etymology reflects a deep connection to the landscape, echoing the historical significance of oak forests in the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ekeren

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ekeren 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 Ekeren was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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