Explore the Family Name Ecker
The meaning of Ecker
1. German: from a medieval personal name, probably a short form of Eckhard (see Eckert). This surname is also found in the Netherlands. 2. German: topographic name for someone who lived in a corner house or kept a corner shop, from Middle High German ecke ‘corner’ + the suffix -er, denoting an inhabitant. 3. Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Eck 1. 4. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): occupational name from a Yiddish dialect eker ‘(wood)cutter, chopper’. 5. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Ecker ‘beechnut’. 6. Norwegian: habitational name from the name of several farms, from Old Norse ekra ‘fallow field’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ecker in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Ecker saw a slight decline between the years 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, it ranked as the 6570th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had dropped to the 7018th spot, representing a change of -6.82%. Interestingly, there was a small increase in the actual count of individuals with the Ecker surname, going from 4755 in 2000 to 4772 in 2010, a growth of 0.36%. However, overall, the proportion of individuals with the Ecker surname per 100k people decreased by 7.95% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,570 | #7,018 | -6.82% |
| Count | 4,755 | 4,772 | 0.36% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.76 | 1.62 | -7.95% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ecker
The census data also provides insights into the ethnic identity associated with the Ecker surname. The largest shift from 2000 to 2010 was seen within the Asian/Pacific Islander category which experienced an impressive 136.00% increase. People identifying as Hispanic with the Ecker surname also rose significantly by 86.92%. The number of people categorized as Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native also grew, albeit at a lesser rate, 42.11% and 13.04% respectively. There was a small decrease (-1.50%) in the white category and a 12.50% decrease in those identifying with two or more races. However, it should be noted that the majority of people with the Ecker surname identify as white, making up 95.14% of all Eckers in 2010. This data is based on the Decennial U.S. Census.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.59% | 95.14% | -1.5% |
| Hispanic | 1.3% | 2.43% | 86.92% |
| Two or More Races | 1.2% | 1.05% | -12.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.25% | 0.59% | 136% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.46% | 0.52% | 13.04% |
| Black | 0.19% | 0.27% | 42.11% |
Ecker ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Ecker is British & Irish, which comprises 39.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (30.6%) and Eastern European (6.2%). Additional ancestries include Ashkenazi Jewish, Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 39.2% |
| French & German | 30.6% |
| Eastern European | 6.2% |
| Other | 24.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Ecker
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Ecker have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 76.30% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 76.30% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 76.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 76.30% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 76.30% |
What Ecker haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Ecker is R-M405, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-M405 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z30 and R-M417, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Heck, Wirth, Fryer, Kruse, Evers, Thiel, Shaver, Pedersen, Stone, Wilhelm.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Ecker surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Ecker have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Ecker" Surname 29.5%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Ecker" Surname 25.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Ecker" Surname 25.9%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Ecker" Surname 15.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Ecker?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Ecker are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition