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

Weeks, 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 Weeks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Weeks in America

Weeks is the 831st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Weeks surname appeared 41,565 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname Weeks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Weeks 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 Weeks

The surname Weeks is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wic," meaning a dwelling or a village. It is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a village or a small settlement.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Weeks can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It was often spelled differently in ancient records, including variants like Wyk, Wyke, and Wic.

One notable early reference to the name Weeks can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John atte Wyke. The Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1279 also record a Simon de la Wyke.

During the medieval period, the surname Weeks was associated with several place names across England, such as Wyke Regis in Dorset, Wyke in Surrey, and Wyke Green in Middlesex. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Weeks throughout history are:

1. Leonard Weeks (1618-1696), an early settler in New England and one of the founders of Greenland, New Hampshire.
2. Mary Weeks (1634-1719), an accused witch during the Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts.
3. John Weeks (1786-1853), an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.
4. Edwin Lord Weeks (1849-1903), an American artist and orientalist painter known for his depictions of Middle Eastern and North African scenes.
5. Winthrop Weeks (1855-1936), an American politician who served as Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Over the centuries, the surname Weeks has been associated with various professions, from farmers and tradesmen to artists, architects, and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Weeks

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

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

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

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