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

Peck, 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 Peck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peck in America

Peck is the 864th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peck surname appeared 40,055 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname Peck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peck 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 Peck

The surname Peck is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "pic," meaning a woodpecker or a small bird. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who had a small, pointed nose resembling a bird's beak or for someone with a habit of pecking or picking at things.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname Peck dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Pec." This ancient record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname Peck was found in various forms, including Peke, Pek, and Pecke, which suggests its widespread use across different regions of England. Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the name include Robert Peke, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230, and William Pek, listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk in 1275.

The name Peck has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Peck (1520-1592), a prominent English merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1591. Another remarkable figure was William Peck (1640-1718), an English Puritan missionary who played a significant role in the establishment of the first Baptist church in Boston, Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, Peck became a well-known name in the literary world with the English poet and satirist Robert Peck (1679-1738), known for his biting satires on contemporary society. Another notable bearer of the name was the American naturalist and author John Muir Peck (1789-1858), whose works on the natural history of New England gained widespread recognition.

The 19th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals with the surname Peck, including George Wilbur Peck (1840-1916), an American author and humorist best known for his witty writings and humorous lectures. Additionally, Ferdinand Peck (1858-1924), an American lawyer and jurist, served as a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri.

Throughout history, the surname Peck has been traced to various place names and locations across England, such as Peckham in London, Peckleton in Leicestershire, and Peckforton in Cheshire. These place names are believed to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peck

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

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

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

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