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

Stecker, 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 Stecker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stecker in America

Stecker is the 10462nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stecker surname appeared 3,073 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 Stecker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stecker 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 Stecker

The surname Stecker is of German origin, originating in the northern regions of the country during the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "stecker," which referred to a stake or pole used for various purposes, such as fencing or supporting structures. This occupation-based surname would have initially been given to someone who worked with such stakes or poles, likely a carpenter or woodworker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stecker can be found in the town records of Lübeck, dating back to the early 14th century. Here, a certain Hans Stecker is mentioned as a resident and tradesman in the year 1321. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 15th century, the Stecker name appeared in several historical documents from the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, a principality located in what is now Lower Saxony, Germany. A prominent figure bearing this surname was Cord Stecker, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Celle from around 1470 to 1535.

As the name spread throughout northern and central Germany over the centuries, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Steckher, Steckher, and Steckere. Some of these variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or the preferences of local scribes and record-keepers.

One noteworthy bearer of the Stecker name was Johann Stecker, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1565 to 1616. He served as a professor at the University of Helmstedt and authored several works on religious and philosophical topics.

In the 18th century, a prominent military figure named Friedrich Wilhelm Stecker (1724-1793) gained recognition for his service in the Prussian Army during the Seven Years' War. He rose through the ranks and eventually attained the position of Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General).

Another individual of historical significance was the artist and engraver Carl Stecker (1811-1886), who was born in the city of Dresden, Saxony. He is known for his intricate engravings and illustrations, many of which depicted landscapes and architectural scenes.

As the Stecker name continued to spread across German-speaking regions, it also found its way into other parts of Europe through migration and trade. However, its roots and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the northern regions of Germany during the medieval and early modern periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stecker

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

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

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

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