Houck
Derived from the Middle High German word "houc," meaning a hill or mound, likely referring to a person living near one.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 14,670 Americans carry the last name Houck. That puts it at #2,854 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.28 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 23,364 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Houck surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
15K
1 in 23,364
Census rank
#2,854
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
13K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 12,634 bearers of the surname Houck in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.28 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2854th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Houck, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Houck
Among Census respondents with the surname Houck, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Houck bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Houck surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Black or African American0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Houck surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,667 | #2,854 | -7.0% |
| Count | 12,458 | 12,634 | 1.4% |
| Per 100K | 4.62 | 4.28 | -7.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Houck bearers went from 12,458 to 12,634 (+1.4% change). The surname moved down 187 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,667 to #2,854.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Houck
FAQ
Houck surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Houck?
The surname Houck holds position #2,854 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 14,670 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.28 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Houck surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Houck, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and Hispanic (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.