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

Seck, 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 Seck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seck in America

Seck is the 19747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seck surname appeared 1,364 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 Seck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seck 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 Seck

The surname SECK is of Senegalese origin, derived from the Wolof ethnic group. It first emerged in the 14th century in the region of Sine-Saloum in present-day Senegal. The name is believed to be a variant of the Wolof word "sëkk," which means "to follow" or "to track."

In the early 16th century, the SECK surname is mentioned in various historical records and manuscripts from the Wolof Kingdom. One notable reference is found in the chronicles of Portuguese explorer Alvise Cadamosto, who documented his encounters with Wolof nobles bearing the name during his voyages along the West African coast in the 1450s.

The earliest recorded individual with the surname SECK is Matar SECK, a prominent Wolof leader who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his diplomatic efforts in establishing trade relations with European merchants and explorers visiting the region.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the SECK name gained prominence in the Wolof kingdoms of Cayor and Baol. Notable figures included Amary SECK (1620-1692), a respected military leader and advisor to the Damel (King) of Cayor, and Ndate SECK (1735-1810), a renowned scholar and Islamic jurist who played a significant role in the spread of Islam in Senegambia.

In the 19th century, the SECK family was influential in the resistance against French colonial rule in Senegal. Lat-Dior SECK (1842-1886) was a prominent Wolof warrior and leader who fought against the French in the Battle of Logandème in 1886.

Another notable figure was Amadou Bamba SECK (1853-1927), the founder of the Mouride Islamic brotherhood, one of the most influential Sufi orders in Senegal and West Africa. He was a spiritual leader and a champion of non-violent resistance against French colonial authorities.

Throughout history, the SECK surname has been closely associated with the Wolof ethnic group and has been prominent in various spheres, including politics, military, religion, and education in Senegal and the broader West African region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seck

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

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

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

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