Surname Ecke - Meaning and Origin
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Ecke: What does the surname Ecke mean?
The surname Ecke is a German-origin surname derived from the medieval given name Eck, which was derived from the Germanic word meaning “edge, corner, or nook”—in this case, referring to someone who lived near a corner or a nook, such as near the corner of a fence or a nook in the woods. By the Early Middle Ages, in some regions, the surname was already being used to refer to someone who had taken a particular oath or pledge. Variants of the surname Ecke include Eck and Ecker.
In history, the name Ecke is believed to have first appeared in documents dating to the 1200s, first in Northern Germany and later in Lower Saxony. It was during this time period that the concept of surnames also began to develop. Eventually, the name Ecke spread throughout Europe, first as far as Southern Germany, Bohemia, and Austria, and later beyond the Continent to countries like the United States and Canada. Many Ecke families still reside in Germany, though today the surname is also common in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Ecke surname is generally tied to the concept of a corner or nook, often referring to living near a corner of a property or a nook of a landscape. Historically, however, the name may have also been used to refer to someone who was bound by an oath or a pledge.
Order DNA origin analysisEcke: Where does the name Ecke come from?
The last name Ecke is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a variant of the surname Eck, which is derived from the German word for "corner." Though its origin is uncertain, it is believed to refer to a family living in or near a corner of a particular settlement. This surname is likely a topographic name as well.
The Ecke surname first appeared in Germany in the 16th century and spread to Austria and Hungary. By the 19th century, many Ecke families had settled in the United States, mainly in the Midwest. The majority of Ecke families in the United States originated in Germany.
The Ecke name is still mainly concentrated in Germany, with the highest percentage of bearers living in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Hamburg, and Lower Saxony. It is also found in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and other countries where German immigrants moved.
The Ecke surname is an uncommon last name, and the population of bearers has not yet reached 10,000. However, due to its German origins, the Ecke surname has a long and rich history. It is a name that many will continue to recognize and remember for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Ecke
The surname Ecke can have different variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin. Some of these variants include Eke, Ecker, Eck, Eckel, Eckle, Eckles and Eckman.
The surname Ecke is of German origin. It is a toponymic surname, which refers to someone who comes from the location "Eck". The origin of this words is the Olde German word, "ecke", which means corner or angle.
The variant, Eke, is also of German origin and the same meaning. It is thought to have been derived from the German word, Eicke, which means an oak tree. This could imply that a person who lived in or near an area with many oak trees could have taken on the name.
Ecker is another variant of the surname Ecke which is also of German origin. This name is derived from the Middle High German word "ecken", which means pointed or edged. The spelling of this variant would have been altered over time.
Eckel is derived from the Middle High German word "eckeling". It is believed that this variant originally referred to those who lived near a corner, or in a location with a corner.
The variant, Eckle, was most likely a nickname of a person who was considered to be especially pointed or angled. The variant, Eckles, could also have been a version of Eckle and could also have been a nickname for someone considered to be especially sharp.
Finally, the surname Eckman most likely originated from the German word "eckemann", which refers to a man who lived near or owned a corner of land. All of these variants, spellings, and surnames share the same origin and all refer to someone who came from the location "Eck".
Famous people with the name Ecke
- Stephan Ecke: German professor and Millennium Project futurist
- Dieter Ecke: German actor
- Albert Ecke: Russian-American buisinessman
- Paul Ecke: horticulturalist who brought the poinsettia to the United States
- Joseph Ecke: German Jewish composer
- Dieter Eckstein: Swiss ice hockey player
- Erich Eckstein: German footballer
- Augusté Ecke: Bohemian-born German architect
- Lou Ecke: American football player
- Albert Karl Ecke: German-born American hotelier
- Stephen Eckels: American football player
- Betty Ecke: German philosopher
- Helmut Eckstein: German footballer
- Fred Ecke: American college basketball coach
- Roman Ecke: German comedian
- Hans Ecke: German film director
- Robert Ecke: German hockey player
- Johann Ecke: Austrian ice hockey player
- Emil Ecke: Austrian entomologist
- Priscilla Ecke: German actress