Beck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Germany-Alt 
  Germany 


Nestled between the Rhine and Wesser rivers is the ancient German region of Westphalia. Westphalia, the home of the name Beck. Hereditary surnames were adopted in this region after the 12th century, and surnames were derived from localities were common. Local surnames originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. When coupled with the German preposition von, which means from or of, local names can indicate that the initial bearer of the name was an aristocrat. The Beck family originally lived in northern or southern Germany.

In the north, the name was derived from the German word "bach" or "beke" which mean "stream," meaning the original bearer of this surname lived by a stream or a brook.

To the south, the name was an occupational name for a "baker."1 As a baker, or perhaps the son of one, he held a unique position in the village and could afford an oven for which the primary activity was using that oven to make bread, perhaps often baking dough brought to him by other town folk who did not have access to an oven.

Early Origins of the Beck family

The surname Beck was first found in Westphalia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as that of a notable family in the region. German archives include a document from as early as the year 1245 wherein is mentioned one Simon Bek, who was then a citizen of Leipzig.

Early History of the Beck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beck research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1489, 1676, 1722, 1731, 1757, 1761, 1780, 1809, 1832 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Beck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beck Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Beck include Beck, Bech, Bech, Beche, Becke, Bec, Becce and many more.

Early Notables of the Beck family

Notables of the period with the name Beck were

Beck World Ranking

In the United States, the name Beck is the 299th most popular surname with an estimated 92,019 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Beck is ranked the 709th most popular surname with an estimated 7,502 people with that name. 3 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Beck is the 507th popular surname with an estimated 92 people with that name. 4 France ranks Beck as 566th with 8,269 people. 5 Australia ranks Beck as 613rd with 6,382 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Beck as 645th with 1,115 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Beck as 641st with 10,222 people. 8


Beck migration to the United States +

Many Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Among them were:

Beck Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Beck Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Beck Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Beck migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Beck Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Beck Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Beck migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Beck Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Beck migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Beck Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
Beck Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Beck (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Beck +
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