Surname Seck - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Seck: What does the surname Seck mean?
The last name Seck is of German origin, and in English is usually spelled either Seck or Seach. It is derived from the Middle High German word seck, which means "sedge" or "grass". This type of grass was historically harvested for thatch roofs, and so the surname likely originated as a sign of occupational affiliation with thatched roof construction or grass-based crafts.
The name can also suggest an ancestral origin from a place name that was derived from the word seck. Examples of this type of place name include Secken (a forest in North Rhine-Westphalia) and Seeksen (a village in Brandenburg).
In the United States, the name Seck is chiefly found in Wisconsin and Alabama. It is more rare in Germany, where it is mostly found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. In all cases, the surname is uncommon.
In summary, the last name Seck is of German origin, and is either derived from an occupation involving sedge and thatched roofs, or from a place with the root word seck. It is uncommon in both the United States and Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisSeck: Where does the name Seck come from?
The Seck surname is primarily found in Senegal and Gambia in West Africa. It is believed to originate from an area known as Sererland, which includes parts of The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Guinea Bissau. The Senegalese Seck family is known to have migrated in the late 16th century from Futa Toro, a region on the Senegal-Mauritania border.
The Seck surname is also found in France, with many members representing activists in the struggle against French colonization. In France, the Seck surname is predominantly found in the Northern Paris region and in the Rhine-Alsace region near Strasbourg.
Today, the Seck surname is still common in Senegal and Gambia, as well as in other parts of West Africa. In Senegal, the Seck are mostly found in the cities of Dakar, Mbour, and Thies. In Gambia, the Secks are largely concentrated in the city of Banjul.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, the Seck surname can also be found. However, it is much less common than in West Africa. In the US, the Seck surname is mostly found in Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado, states which historically have high concentrations of people of Senegalese and Gambian descent. In the UK, the Seck family is predominantly found in London and Manchester.
Variations of the surname Seck
The surname Seck has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common version of the surname is Seck, and this spelling is used mostly in Germany. A more unusual spelling is "Secke", which is used primarily in France. The name also appears as "Seckel," "Seckle," "Sekle," or "Seckel" in various parts of Europe.
The surname variations are derived from the Germanic word “sig” meaning “victory” and “helma” meaning “helmet” or “protection”. It is also possible that the name may be related to the Latin word “securus” meaning “safe” or “secure”.
Other surnames which may have a similar origin to Seck are Söckle, Söckl, and Sekle (commonly used in the Netherlands), as well as Segal, Segala, and Segatti (found in Italy).
The surname Seck can also appear as Sek in central Europe and the Balkans. In Slavic countries, the name is usually spelled Sek and the feminine form is Sekova. Similarly, in German-speaking countries, the feminine form of Seck is Secken.
In America, the most common form of the surname is Seckel or Säckle, which is often found among the Pennsylvania Dutch population. Americanized versions of the surname may include Sunkle, Sink, and Seyfert.
In the United Kingdom, the name is usually Anglicised to Sykes, although some versions also appear as Smythe or Seager. It is also believed that the surname is related to Spaczka (Polish) and Spaczko (Hungarian) as well as Sacco (Italian).
Overall, there are many variations and spellings of the surname Seck, with each reflecting the regional influences of the culture and language in which it is used.
Famous people with the name Seck
- Modou Sougou: professional Senegalese soccer player
- Sylvie Tellier: French beauty pageant winner and former TV presenter
- Mamadou Seck: former Prime Minister of Senegal
- Moussa Seck: professional Malian soccer player
- Daouda Seck: former Prime Minister of Mali
- Youssou Ndour: Senegalese singer, songwriter, composer and businessman
- Thione Seck: Senegalese singer and musician
- Adama Seck: Senegalese silver medalist in the long jump at the African Championships in Athletics in 2005
- Ismaïla Sarr: Senegalese professional soccer player 10. Pape Cheikh Diouf: Senegalese professional soccer player