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

Luk, 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 Luk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Luk in America

Luk is the 15289th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Luk surname appeared 1,920 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 Luk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Luk 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 Luk

The surname Luk has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "luc," meaning "lock" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a gate or enclosed area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1195, which mention a person named Willelmus Luk. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names used during that period.

Another significant historical reference is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which contained records of landholders and their holdings. These rolls include entries for individuals with the surname Luk, indicating their presence in various counties across England.

During the 13th century, the name Luk appeared in various spellings, such as Loke, Looke, and Lok, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in that era. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the names.

One notable bearer of the Luk surname was John Luk, a prominent merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 14th century. Records show that he was involved in trade with the continent and played a role in the city's economic affairs.

In the 16th century, the Luk surname was associated with several place names in England, such as Lukesland in Kent and Lukeshall in Essex. These toponymic references suggest that some families with the surname may have derived their name from the location where they resided.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir William Luk, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a respected statesman and served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in the early 1600s.

During the English Civil War in the mid-17th century, Captain Richard Luk was a notable figure who fought for the Parliamentarian forces. He was known for his bravery and military prowess in several key battles.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contribution of Samuel Luk, an English poet and playwright who lived from 1638 to 1719. His works, though not widely acclaimed during his lifetime, have since gained recognition for their lyrical quality and insightful commentary on contemporary society.

As the centuries progressed, the Luk surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with families often maintaining close ties to their ancestral homes and local communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Luk

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

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

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

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