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

Goeke, 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 Goeke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goeke in America

Goeke is the 23002nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goeke surname appeared 1,111 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 Goeke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goeke 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 Goeke

The surname Goeke is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Low German word "gok," which referred to a curved or bent shape. This could potentially indicate that the name was initially associated with someone who had a physical characteristic or occupation related to a bent or curved object.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Goeke name can be found in the historical records of the city of Hamburg, Germany, dating back to the late 15th century. These records mention a certain Hinrick Goeke, a merchant who lived and worked in the city during that period.

As the name spread throughout different regions of Germany, various spelling variations emerged, such as Goke, Göke, and Goecke. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the preferences of those who recorded the name in official documents.

In the 17th century, the Goeke surname gained prominence in the region of Westphalia, located in the northwestern part of Germany. During this time, several notable individuals bearing the Goeke name made their mark in various fields.

One such individual was Johann Goeke (1599-1673), a Lutheran theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Rostock. His works on metaphysics and ethics were widely renowned during his lifetime.

Another noteworthy figure was Johann Goeke (1667-1728), a German jurist and legal scholar who authored several influential treatises on civil law. His contributions helped shape the development of legal theory in the Holy Roman Empire.

In the 18th century, the Goeke name found its way to North America, as many German immigrants sought new opportunities in the New World. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the American colonies was that of Johann Friedrich Goeke (1722-1789), a farmer who settled in Pennsylvania.

The 19th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals bearing the Goeke surname. Among them was Hermann Goeke (1836-1905), a German educator and author who specialized in the study of classical literature. His works on Greek and Roman authors were highly regarded in academic circles.

As the Goeke name continued to spread across different regions and countries, it has been associated with various professions and achievements throughout history. While the exact origin and meaning of the name may remain open to interpretation, its legacy as a surname with deep German roots is undeniable.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goeke

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

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

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

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