Eck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The name Eck evolved in ancient Germany in the state of Bavaria. It is a patronymic name. Patronymics are derived from the given name of the father of the bearer. Names derived from the name of the mother of the bearer, which are less common, are called metronymic names. Patronymic names were generally formed from traditional, German given names, rather than the names of saints or biblical figures, as is the custom in many other European cultures. Eck comes from the Germanic personal name Eckhart. The name Eck is a short form of this Germanic personal name, which is derived from the Old German word "ecka," which means "corner" or "edge." Thus, the original bearer of this name resided at the edge of a settlement or on the corner of a street.

Early Origins of the Eck family

The surname Eck was first found in Bavaria, where the family became noted for its many branches within the region, many houses acquiring a status and influence which rivaled that of the landed aristocracy. In their later history some branches were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they distinguished themselves through their contributions to the social, political, and economic developments of the nation.

Early History of the Eck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eck research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1103, 1108, 1486, 1543, 1760, 1766, 1774, 1778, 1792, 1801 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Eck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eck Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Eck include Eck, Ecker, Ecke, Ekker, Eker, Ekert, Ekke, Eckher, Eckherr, Echer, Eckermann and many more.

Early Notables of the Eck family

Prominent among members of the name Eck in this period include

Johann Maier Eck (1486-1543), who was a powerful opponent of Martin Luther and the Reformation; Johann Peter Eckermann (1792-1854) was an author in his own right, but was most famous for his friendshi...
Johann Friedrich Eck was an eminent violin-player, born 1766 at Mannheim, where his father was a member of the band. He was a pupil of Danner, and soon rose to be one of the best violin-players in Ger...

Eck Ranking

In the United States, the name Eck is the 4,906^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Eck is ranked the 3,646^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2

Eck migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Eck surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Eck Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margreth Eck, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1736 3
Henrich Eck, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 3

Eck Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Eck, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 3
Johann Eck, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 3
George Eck, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1850 3
Kath Eck, aged 20, who arrived in America in 1853 3
Adam Eck, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1870 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Eck migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Eck Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas James Eck, who arrived in Canada in 1834

Contemporary Notables of the name Eck (post 1700) +

Dorothy Eck (1924-2017), American politician, Member of the Montana State Senate (1980-2000)
Thomas Woodrow Eck (1914-1988), American football player and coach
Donald "Don" Eck (b. 1961), American college football coach and former player
Diana L. Eck (b. 1945), American religious scholar who is Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard University
Armin Eck (b. 1964), German football coach and a former player
Gary Eck, Australian comedian and actor

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)