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

Uken, 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 Uken surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Uken in America

Uken is the 116201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Uken surname appeared 150 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 Uken.

We can also compare 2010 data for Uken 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 Uken

The surname UKEN is of English origin, emerging in the late 13th century from the historic county of Norfolk. It is derived from the Old English word "uce", meaning a ridge or hill, and the suffix "-en" denoting a location. This suggests the name was initially a toponymic surname, referring to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or elevated area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name UKEN can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record compiled in 1273. The entry lists a "Willelmus de Uken" as a landowner in the village of Salle. This indicates the surname was already well-established in the region by the latter half of the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the UKEN surname appears in various ecclesiastical and legal documents across Norfolk and neighboring counties. For instance, a "Johannes Uken" is mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Hingham in 1358, while a "Robertus Uken" is recorded as a witness to a land transaction in the village of Heacham in 1374.

By the 15th century, variations in spelling had emerged, including Ucken, Uckyn, and Ookyn. These alternate forms can be found in various records, such as the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the influential Paston family of Norfolk, which mentions a "John Ookyn" in 1472.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the UKEN surname was John Uken (c. 1430-1501), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich. He served as the city's mayor in 1489 and was a prominent benefactor of the local church and community.

Another individual of note was Sir Thomas Uken (c. 1525-1587), a landowner and member of the gentry from the village of Ukenham, which likely derived its name from the UKEN surname. Sir Thomas was known for his involvement in local politics and served as a Justice of the Peace for Norfolk.

In the 17th century, the UKEN surname spread beyond Norfolk, with records showing individuals bearing the name in neighboring counties such as Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. One such example is Edward Uken (1642-1713), a noted clergyman who served as the rector of St. Peter's Church in Ipswich, Suffolk.

The 18th century saw the emergence of a prominent UKEN family in the town of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. William Uken (1712-1782) was a successful merchant and shipowner, and his son, also named William (1745-1819), continued the family's maritime interests and served as a captain in the Royal Navy.

As the centuries progressed, individuals bearing the UKEN surname continued to make their mark in various fields, from academia to politics and beyond. One notable figure was Dr. Emily Uken (1867-1944), a pioneering female physician and advocate for women's rights, who was born in Norwich but spent much of her career in London.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Uken

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

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

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

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