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

Peker, 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 Peker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peker in America

Peker is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peker surname appeared 144 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 Peker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peker 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 Peker

The surname PEKER is of Turkish origin, with its roots traced back to the 15th century Ottoman Empire. The name is believed to have derived from the Turkish word "peker," which means "strong" or "sturdy," suggesting that the name was initially given to individuals who possessed these physical attributes or exhibited such qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PEKER surname can be found in the Ottoman tax records (tahrir defterleri) from the late 15th century, where it is mentioned in connection with various settlements and villages within the empire's territories. This suggests that the name had already become established and was in use among the Turkish population during that time period.

During the Ottoman era, the PEKER name was particularly prevalent in the Anatolian region, which encompasses modern-day Turkey. It is likely that the name originated in this region and subsequently spread to other parts of the empire through migration and population movements.

In the 18th century, the PEKER surname appears in Ottoman court records, where individuals bearing this name were involved in legal disputes or transactions. This provides further evidence of the name's long-standing presence and usage within the Ottoman society.

One notable figure associated with the PEKER surname was Mehmet Peker (1869-1935), a Turkish politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Turkey from 1920 to 1921. He played a crucial role in the Turkish War of Independence and the establishment of the modern Republic of Turkey.

Another prominent individual with the PEKER surname was Ahmet Peker (1886-1961), a Turkish diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1946 to 1947. He was also a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and represented Turkey in various international conferences.

In the 20th century, the PEKER surname gained further recognition with the accomplishments of Fikri Peker (1907-1979), a Turkish author and journalist who contributed significantly to the development of modern Turkish literature. His works explored themes of social commentary and critique, reflecting the changing dynamics of Turkish society during his lifetime.

Additionally, Recai Peker (1889-1957) was a Turkish military officer and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Turkey from 1946 to 1947. He played a key role in shaping the country's domestic and foreign policies during the post-World War II period.

Another noteworthy figure was Sami Peker (1927-2013), a Turkish academic and author who made significant contributions to the field of Ottoman studies. His extensive research and publications shed light on various aspects of Ottoman history, culture, and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peker

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

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

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

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