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![Show Contents]() Eker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Eker 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. Eker comes from the Germanic personal name Eckhart. The name Eker 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 Eker familyThe surname Eker 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 Eker familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eker 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 Eker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Eker Spelling VariationsMany 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 Eker include Eck, Ecker, Ecke, Ekker, Eker, Ekert, Ekke, Eckher, Eckherr, Echer, Eckermann and many more. Early Notables of the Eker familyProminent among members of the name Eker 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 friendship with Goethe; he was the latter's literary executor and his recorded conversations with Goethe gave the public many insights into the character of Germany's greatest author.
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...
Another 130 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Eker 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 Eker surname or a spelling variation of the name include:
Eker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Jacob Eker, who landed in New York in 1709 1
- Abraham Eker, aged 52, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 1
- Andreas Eker, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 1
Eker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- M Elis Eker, who arrived in America in 1847 1
- Paul Eker, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 1
- 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)
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Eker migration to the United States 
England
Germany
