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

Steck, 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 Steck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Steck in America

Steck is the 9155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Steck surname appeared 3,564 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Steck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Steck 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 Steck

The surname Steck has its origins in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "stech," meaning a stake or a pole, suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked with stakes or poles.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Steck can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. Historical records from this period, including town registries and church documents, provide evidence of the name's existence and its various spellings, such as Stech, Steche, and Stecke.

One notable historical reference to the name Steck can be found in the Stadtbuch von Augsburg (City Book of Augsburg), a medieval chronicle that documented events and legal proceedings in the city of Augsburg, Bavaria. The chronicle mentions a certain Hans Steck, a merchant and citizen of Augsburg, who lived in the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Steck appeared in various regions of Germany, including the Palatinate and Württemberg. During this time, the name was often associated with place names, such as Steckborn, a town in the Swiss canton of Thurgau, suggesting that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Steck was Johann Steck (1525-1587), a German Protestant theologian and reformer from Nuremberg. He played a significant role in the Reformation movement and was a prominent figure in the Lutheran Church.

Another notable figure was Hans Steck (1590-1648), a Swiss Anabaptist leader and preacher from the canton of Bern. He was a prominent figure in the Swiss Brethren movement and faced persecution for his religious beliefs.

In the 18th century, the surname Steck spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and England. Johann Steck (1738-1809), a Dutch engraver and artist, was known for his intricate copper engravings and works depicting landscapes and cityscapes.

In the 19th century, the name Steck appeared in various parts of the United States, likely due to German immigration. One notable individual was Michael Steck (1814-1894), a German-American businessman and politician from Pennsylvania, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Another significant figure was Theodore Steck (1846-1925), a German-American artist and lithographer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He was renowned for his landscape paintings and lithographs depicting scenes of the American West.

Overall, the surname Steck has a rich history spanning several centuries and regions, with its roots firmly planted in German-speaking lands. While its exact origin remains uncertain, the name has been associated with various occupations, places, and notable individuals throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Steck

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

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

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

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