Surname Hoek - Meaning and Origin
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Hoek: What does the surname Hoek mean?
The last name Hoek is a topographic Dutch surname derived from "hoek," a Dutch term meaning "corner." It is likely that the surname originated as a way to denote someone who lived or worked on the corner of a road or street corner. The surname itself is thought to have originated in the Netherlands, but over time it has spread throughout the world, especially to countries with Dutch historical connections, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In most cases, the Netherlands pronunciation of Hoek is "hoo-kay," but the variant spellings of Hoogh, Hoeck, and Hooge also exist. Historically, many members of the Hoek name have been self-described as wealthy merchants or landowners. The name has also been tied to many Dutch noble families, including the van Hoeck, van Hoek, and van Hoecke families. Although the name has spread throughout the world, the Netherlands remains the country with the most people bearing the Hoek surname.
Today, the expansive reach of the Hoek name further indicates a long and revered history. The name in itself carries a certain strength and respectability, and many people around the world can now proudly boast the Hoek name as part of their ancestral lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisHoek: Where does the name Hoek come from?
The last name Hoek is a common surname today primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is a patronymic surname derived from the Dutch male given name "Hoe(c)k" which means "corner" or "hook". It is estimated that there are over 10,000 people with the last name Hoek living in the Netherlands and another 3,000 living in Belgium. Given the close proximity of the two countries, it is likely that those with the last name are related.
The Hoek family history can be traced back to the towns of Nijmegen in the Netherlands and Bruges in Belgium. During the 17th and 18th centuries the Hoek family was well-known for owning land, breweries and sites of production. The family remains prominent in both countries and were among the first people to settle in many places throughout the Netherlands.
The last name Hoek is also present in countries around the world including the United Kingdom, United States of America, South Africa, Australia, and Canada. This is likely due to Dutch emigration during the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the surname is most strongly associated with the Netherlands and Belgium.
Interestingly, the last name Hoek is also quite common in small towns in the Midwest region of the United States. This is largely due to the efforts of Reverend Hendrick Hoek in the mid-1800s. Reverend Hoek, originally from the Netherlands, traveled the world to preach and eventually settled in a small town in Indiana called Holland. Subsequently, many of the families with the surname Hoek in Indiana today are his descendants.
Variations of the surname Hoek
The Hoek surname is one with a rich history and many different variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. The original Dutch spelling of the name is Hoek, though it can be seen spelled as Houck, Hoeck, Hauck, Hick, Hicke, Haecke, and Haeck. These spellings of the original Dutch surname are mostly found in German-speaking countries like Germany and Switzerland, as well as in Dutch-speaking countries like the Netherlands and Belgium.
The English versions of the Dutch spelling of Hoek typically take the forms of Hook, Hoke, Hock, Hawk, and Hauk. This version of the surname is mainly found in English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
One variant of the original Dutch Hoek spelling is Huijck, which typically has the English spellings of Hueck, Hueckert, Huak, Huyck, and Huyckert. This variant is mostly seen in Dutch-speaking countries, as well as in Dutch-affected parts of Germany.
Other Dutch surnames that have a similar origin to Hoek that are not variants of the original Dutch spelling include: Hookman, Hooman, Huisman, Huizman, Haakman, Hakhuis, Haeckman, and Hoogeveen. These surnames are most commonly found in Dutch-speaking countries and in Dutch colonies.
Finally, another version of the Dutch Hoek surname that has an entirely different origin is the surname Haiku, which is of Japanese origin and typically has the Japanese spellings of Haku and Haka.
Famous people with the name Hoek
- Randall Hoek, actor
- Alex Hoek, professional volleyball player
- Willem Hoek, former Dutch politician
- Bas Hoek, Dutch footballer
- Pierre Hoek, snowboarder
- Kees Hoek, mayor of Goes
- Amy Hoek, model
- Gerrit Hoek, Dutch cyclist
- Erik Hoek, former Dutch cyclist
- Annelies Hoek, Dutch-Canadian archivist
- Paul Hoek, Dutch fluviologist
- Harmen Hoek, Dutch animator
- Willem-Simon Hoek, Dutch designer
- Anne Hoek, Dutch modern pentathlete
- Hendrik Hoek, Dutch athlete
- Huub Hoek, Dutch race walker
- William Hoek, Dutch Paralympian
- Matthijs Hoek, Dutch architect
- Cees Hoek, Dutch car designer
- Peter Hoek, Dutch sculptor