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

Kauk, 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 Kauk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kauk in America

Kauk is the 40082nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kauk surname appeared 547 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 Kauk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kauk 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 Kauk

The surname Kauk is believed to have originated in Germany, likely in the late medieval period or early modern era. It is thought to be derived from the German word "kauken," which means "to squat" or "to crouch." This suggests that the name may have been given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had a particular way of sitting or standing in a crouched position.

The earliest known recorded instances of the name Kauk can be found in various German church records and official documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. Some of the earliest documented examples include Hans Kauk, born in Nuremberg in 1541, and Johannes Kauk, a farmer from the village of Wittenberg in 1612.

While the name Kauk does not appear to be directly associated with any notable historical figures or events, it is worth mentioning that the similar-sounding surname "Kauk" is found in some areas of Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland and Ukraine. This variation may have a different origin and meaning.

One notable person with the surname Kauk was Johann Gottfried Kauk (1770-1849), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Leipzig. He was known for his works on ethics and moral philosophy, including his treatise "System der Sittenlehre" (System of Ethics).

Another individual of note was Carl Kauk (1865-1923), a German painter and illustrator who was part of the Düsseldorf School of painting. His works often depicted scenes of rural life and landscapes in a realistic and naturalistic style.

In the realm of literature, there was Ernst Kauk (1892-1976), a German author and playwright who wrote numerous plays, novels, and short stories. His works were popular in the early 20th century and often explored themes of social justice and the human condition.

Additionally, the name Kauk has been associated with various place names and geographical locations in Germany, such as Kaukenmühle, a historic mill located in the town of Spenge, and Kaukenberg, a hill near the city of Bielefeld.

It is worth noting that the surname Kauk, while not widespread, has maintained a presence in various regions of Germany and other parts of Europe throughout history, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields, from academia and the arts to literature and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kauk

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

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

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

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