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

Specks, 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 Specks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Specks in America

Specks is the 102688th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Specks surname appeared 175 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 Specks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Specks 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 Specks

The surname "SPECKS" is believed to have originated in Germany, where it first appeared in records dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Old German word "speck," meaning "bacon" or "pork fat." It is likely that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who worked with pork or had some association with the meat trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the town of Augsburg, Germany, where a man named Hans Speck was listed in the town's tax records in 1547. The spelling "SPECKS" is thought to have emerged later as a variation, possibly influenced by regional dialects or scribal errors.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Johann Specks (1592-1658) was a German theologian and author, best known for his work "Theologia Polemica," which explored various theological debates of the time. Another individual of note was Friedrich Specks (1770-1837), a German composer and pianist who lived and worked in Vienna during the classical period.

As the name spread beyond Germany, it took on various spellings and adaptations in other regions. In the Netherlands, for example, the name appeared as "Speckx" or "Spekx," while in English-speaking countries, it was often anglicized to "Speck" or "Specks."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, where a baptism was recorded for a child named Mary Specks in 1678. Another notable figure was William Specks (1744-1819), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several prominent buildings in London during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

In the United States, the name appeared as early as the 18th century, with records showing a Johann Specks who settled in Pennsylvania in 1748. Another early bearer of the name was Peter Specks (1771-1832), a German-American farmer and landowner in Virginia.

Throughout history, the surname "SPECKS" has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, musicians, academics, and tradespeople. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark on the historical record and continues to be associated with its German roots and the once-prominent pork trade.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Specks

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

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

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

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