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

Hayek, 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 Hayek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hayek in America

Hayek is the 16166th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hayek surname appeared 1,788 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Hayek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hayek 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 Hayek

The surname Hayek originates from the Arabic word "hawayik," meaning "small estates" or "little villages." It is believed to have first emerged in the Middle East during the medieval period, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine.

The earliest known records of the name Hayek can be traced back to the 12th century, appearing in various Arabic manuscripts and historical documents from that era. One notable mention is found in the writings of the renowned Arab historian and geographer, Al-Idrisi, who lived from 1099 to 1165.

In the subsequent centuries, the name Hayek became associated with various prominent figures in the region. One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Salim Hayek, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in Damascus during the 14th century.

As time passed, the Hayek family spread across different parts of the Middle East, with some members settling in areas that are now part of modern-day Turkey. In the 16th century, a notable figure named Ibrahim Hayek gained recognition as a skilled architect and was responsible for the construction of several prominent mosques and public buildings in Istanbul.

During the 19th century, the name Hayek gained further prominence with the birth of Khalil Hayek, a celebrated Lebanese poet and writer who played a significant role in the literary renaissance of the Arabic language. He lived from 1823 to 1888 and is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Arabic literature.

Another notable individual with the surname Hayek was Muhammad Hayek, a Syrian-born artist who lived from 1885 to 1964. He was renowned for his vibrant paintings depicting scenes of everyday life in the Middle East, and his works are displayed in various art galleries and museums around the world.

In more recent times, the Hayek surname has gained international recognition thanks to the Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek, who was born in 1966. She has achieved widespread acclaim for her performances in numerous films and has become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.

While the origin of the Hayek surname can be traced back to the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name contributing to diverse fields, including literature, art, architecture, and entertainment.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hayek

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

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

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

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