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

Peek, 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 Peek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peek in America

Peek is the 3263rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peek surname appeared 11,062 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 Peek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peek 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 Peek

The surname PEEK is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "peak" or "peke," meaning a peak, point, or hill. The name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a prominent peak or hilltop.

The name PEEK can be traced back to the 12th century in England, where it was first recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1176. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire, where many early bearers of the name were found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PEEK appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Pec" or "Peke." This suggests that the name had established itself in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name PEEK was also found in various spellings, such as "Peake," "Peke," and "Peek." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling during that period.

Notable individuals with the surname PEEK include Sir Henry Peke (c. 1343 - c. 1419), an English soldier and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry IV. Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir Robert Peke (c. 1380 - 1453), a English knight and landowner in Derbyshire.

During the 16th century, the name PEEK was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. One notable figure from this period was William Peek (c. 1505 - 1588), a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire.

In the 17th century, the surname PEEK continued to be prominent in the northern counties of England. One notable individual was Sir William Peek (1628 - 1707), a wealthy merchant and politician from Yorkshire who served as Lord Mayor of York.

The 18th century saw the name PEEK spread further across England, with bearers of the name found in various counties. A notable figure from this period was Sir Henry Peek (1712 - 1798), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Derbyshire.

As the name PEEK evolved over the centuries, it also gave rise to various place names, such as Peek Hill in Derbyshire and Peek Green in Lancashire, which further reinforced the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peek

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

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

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

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