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

Houck, 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 Houck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Houck in America

Houck is the 2854th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Houck surname appeared 12,634 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Houck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Houck 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 Houck

The surname Houck has its origins in Germany, with its earliest recorded examples dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German word "huc," meaning "hook" or "bend," suggesting that it may have been an occupational surname for someone who made or worked with hooks.

Houck is also thought to be related to the German place name "Hauck," a small village located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. This connection to a specific location suggests that the name may have originated as a locative surname, denoting someone who came from or lived in that particular area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Houck can be found in the church records of the town of Worms, Germany, where a certain Johannes Houck was mentioned in 1567. Other early references include the birth record of Hans Houck in the town of Mainz in 1589, and the marriage record of Matthias Houck and Anna Maria Schneider in the village of Alzey in 1612.

As the name spread throughout Germany and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Hauck, Hauk, Houk, and Hauke. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local record keepers.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Houck throughout history include:

1. Balthasar Houck (1612-1687), a German theologian and author of several religious texts.
2. Johanna Houck (1746-1819), a German-American pioneer who settled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in the late 18th century.
3. Adam Houck (1798-1876), an American businessman and politician who served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.
4. Gottfried Houck (1829-1899), a German-American engineer who designed and built several bridges and railroads in the American West.
5. Eliza Houck (1854-1928), an American educator and women's rights activist who co-founded the Missouri Equal Rights Association.

While the surname Houck may not be as widespread as some other German surnames, it has a rich history spanning centuries and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Houck

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

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

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

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