Explore the Family Name Bek
The meaning of Bek
1. Jewish (Ashkenazic) and South German: variant of Beck ‘baker’. 2. Croatian and Slovenian: occupational name for a baker, from old South German beck ‘baker’ (see Beck, compare Pek 1). 3. Czech: from a pet form of a personal name beginning with Be-, such as Benedikt (see Benedict), or a surname of German origin (see 1 above). 4. Polish: nickname derived from bekać ‘to burp’, beczeć ‘to bleat, to sing sharp, to cry loudly’, or an adaptation of German Beck. This surname is also found among Rusyns (Lemkos). 5. Dutch: nickname for someone with a particular bek ‘mouth, jaw’. 6. Dutch: topographic name for someone living near a beek ‘stream’. Compare Beck 6 and Beek. 7. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 白 (see Bai 1) and 麥 (see Mai 1), based on their Hokkien or Teochew pronunciations. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Izrail.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bek in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Bek" increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the Bek surname was ranked 67,936 in popularity with a count of 271, equivalent to 0.1 per 100k people. By 2010, the ranking had improved to 59,017, and the count rose to 343, increasing the proportion per 100k to 0.12. This represents a popularity growth of 13.13% and a count increase of 26.57% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #67,936 | #59,017 | 13.13% |
| Count | 271 | 343 | 26.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.12 | 20% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bek
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insight into the ethnicity associated with the surname Bek. In 2000, a significant majority of Beks identified as White (83.03%), followed by Asian/Pacific Islander (9.96%) and those identifying with two or more races (4.80%). However, by 2010, while the majority still identified as White, the percentage dropped slightly to 79.88%. Interestingly, the percentage of Beks identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased significantly to 14.58%, while those identifying with two or more races saw a decrease to 1.46%. Additionally, a new demographic appeared in 2010, with 2.33% of Beks identifying as Hispanic. No Beks identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 83.03% | 79.88% | -3.79% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 9.96% | 14.58% | 46.39% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.33% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 4.8% | 1.46% | -69.58% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |