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

Smeck, 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 Smeck surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Smeck in America

Smeck is the 144908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smeck surname appeared 105 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Smeck.

The history of the last name Smeck

The surname Smeck is believed to have originated from central Europe, particularly within the regions that today consist of Germany and the Czech Republic. The earliest origins trace back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th century. This surname is considered to be an occupational surname, potentially derived from the Middle High German words "schmäcken" which means "to taste" or "to savor," indicating a possible historical association with food preparation or tasting.

Historically, surnames were often taken from a person's occupation, place of residence, or a characteristic trait. In the regions of modern-day Germany and the Czech Republic, surnames became more fixed during the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest known references to a surname similar to Smeck is found in the records of a German-speaking region where a family known as Schmeck or Schmack operated.

The oldest recorded use of a similar name was in a 14th-century German manuscript, wherein a Martin Schmeck was mentioned as a merchant around 1350. This appears to be the earliest documented instance, suggesting that the surname was already established by then. Furthermore, it appears in various medieval city registries, including that of Prague in the late 14th century.

Another notable figure from history bearing the surname was Johann Smeck, a notable baker in the Bohemian region in the 15th century, born in 1425 and died in 1490. His bakery business significantly contributed to the local economy; his descendants continued the trade, thus spreading the surname further.

In 1602, another Smeck, Heinrich Smeck, was recorded in church registers as a prominent vineyard owner near the Rhine River. Heinrich's contributions to viticulture were well-documented, and he is remembered in historical texts for advancing grape cultivation methods.

The surname appears again in military records from the Thirty Years' War, where a Captain Hans Smeck served in a mercenary army between 1618 to 1648. He is believed to have been a strategic leader, born around 1590 and known for his tactics in several significant battles of the war.

In the late 17th century, Andreas Smeck, born in 1663 and died in 1721, was a notable blacksmith in Bavaria. He was renowned for his craftsmanship and innovations in metalwork, with several tools and techniques attributed to his name in early trade manuals.

Finally, moving towards the early 19th century, the name Smeck surfaces with Joseph Smeck, also known as Smek, who was an influential musician and composer in Vienna, born in 1798 and died in 1856. His contributions to the early romantic music period are noted in several biographical records and historical manuscripts.

The surname Smeck has thus carried through various occupations and regions, appearing in multiple significant historical contexts. The variations and adaptations of the name over the centuries reflect its deep roots in central European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smeck

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Smeck 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.

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

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

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