Veek last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Veek

A surname derived from the Dutch word 'vee' meaning cattle or livestock.

Veek, 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 Veek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Veek in America

Veek is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Veek surname appeared 107 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 Veek.

The history of the last name Veek

The surname VEEK has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first appeared in the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "veek," which means "cattle" or "bovine." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with people who worked with cattle, such as farmers or herdsmen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the VEEK surname can be found in the Dutch village of Groningen, where a family by that name lived in the late 1500s. Historical records from that period mention a Jan Veek, who was a prominent landowner and cattle breeder.

As the name spread throughout the Netherlands and neighboring regions, it underwent various spelling variations, including Veeck, Veekx, and Veecks. These variations likely emerged due to differences in local dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the VEEK surname was Pieter Veek, a Dutch merchant and trader who established trade routes between the Netherlands and the East Indies. His exploits were documented in several maritime journals and logs from that era.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Johannes Veek, a Dutch scholar and philosopher who lived in the late 18th century. He published several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy, earning him a reputation as one of the leading thinkers of his time.

During the 19th century, the VEEK surname spread beyond the Netherlands as Dutch immigrants settled in various parts of the world. One such individual was Willem Veek, who emigrated to South Africa in the 1840s and became a successful farmer and landowner in the Cape Colony.

In the United States, the VEEK surname first appeared in the late 19th century, likely brought by Dutch immigrants. One of the earliest recorded Americans with this surname was Jacob Veek, a farmer who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1870s.

Another notable American with the VEEK surname was Henry Veek, a businessman and philanthropist from Chicago who lived in the early 20th century. He made his fortune in the manufacturing industry and was known for his generous contributions to various charitable causes.

While the VEEK surname may not be as common as some other Dutch surnames, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and various parts of the world. The name's association with cattle and agriculture reflects its humble origins, while the accomplishments of individuals like Pieter Veek and Johannes Veek demonstrate the diverse paths that those bearing this surname have taken over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Veek

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

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 Veek was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.52% 99
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 4.67% 5
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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

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

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"Veek last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/veek-surname-popularity/.

"Veek last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/veek-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 June, 2025

Veek last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/veek-surname-popularity/.

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