Show ContentsHecke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hecke name comes from the Middle High German word "hecke," or "hegge," meaning "hedge;" as such it was likely originally a topographic name for someone who lived near a hedge. This name is common in southern Germany and the Rhineland.

Early Origins of the Hecke family

The surname Hecke was first found in Flanders, where the name Heck became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Hecke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hecke research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hecke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hecke Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Heck, Hecke, van Heck, van Hecke, van den Hecke and others.

Early Notables of the Hecke family

More information is included under the topic Early Hecke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hecke migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hecke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bernard Hecke, who settled in Philadelphia in 1818
  • Joh Gerh Hecke, who arrived in America in 1820 1
  • Bemh Heinr Hecke, who landed in America in 1837 1
Hecke Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Wilhelm Hecke, who landed in Chile in 1900 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Hecke (post 1700) +

  • Frederick Van Hecke, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Wisconsin 5th District, 1972 2
  • Erich Hecke (1887-1947), German mathematician whose best work was in analytic number theory


  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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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