Surname Bucke - Meaning and Origin
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Bucke: What does the surname Bucke mean?
The last name Bucke is believed to be of German origin and is a variation of the name Buck. The surname Bucke likely originated from the Middle High German word boc, meaning 'male goat' or 'he-goat.' The surname was likely either used as a nickname for someone who was physically or temperamentally reminiscent of a goat, or simply taken on as a more distinctive form of the name Buck.
The surname Bucke is found in various parts of Germany today, as well as among many families of German descent living in other parts of the world. The name has been found in records as far back as the 12th century. During the migration of many Germans to the United States, many Americans adopted the surname Bucke, making it more common in the United States than in Germany.
Today, the Bucke family is distinguished largely by their German heritage. Many Bucke family members are proud of their German heritage and often celebrate it in different ways, such as through traditional foods, beer, and music. Many members of the Bucke family also remain active in their local German cultural organizations to keep their heritage alive.
Order DNA origin analysisBucke: Where does the name Bucke come from?
The last name Bucke is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom, particularly in England. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English personal name Bucka or Bucca. The surname is most heavily concentrated in the North West of England, specifically in Lancashire and Cumbria. There is a small presence of the name in other parts of Europe, primarily Austria and Germany, although not in large enough numbers to significantly alter the surname’s British origins.
In the United States, the last name Bucke is most frequently found in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The name is particularly widespread across the rural parts of Pennsylvania and the Appalachian Mountains. A 2013 United States Census report claimed that approximately 13,660 people held the Bucke surname across the fifty states, however, more recent estimates suggest the population of Bucke-surnamed individuals may be as high as 50,000.
The last name Bucke is not common in many other parts of the world, although a small number of individuals have been recorded with the name in Canada, India, South Korea and parts of Africa. These small populations are likely due to the recent emigration of British individuals with the Bucke surname.
Variations of the surname Bucke
The surname Bucke can be spelled in several different ways, including Buke, Buk, Buck, Buek, and Bukk. All of these variations originated from an Old English word meaning “buck”, which was used to refer to a male deer. This is the most commonly accepted origin of the Bucke surname, although other interpretations have been suggested.
The variants of Bucke which include an extra letter such as Buke and Bukk are likely due to a spelling clerical error when records were first being kept. The spelling of Buek is interpreted to be an adaptation of a similar Dutch spelling, Bürk.
Variations of the Bucke surname can also be found in other languages and cultures. In German and Dutch languages, the spelling Bück is quite common. The Catalan spelling is Bunke (or sometimes Bunque), while in Galician it is Buxo. Also in Spanish, it is much more common for the surname to be spelled Buche or Buxo.
In terms of the surnames that are related to Bucke, they can be broadly grouped into two main categories: patronymic surnames and derivative surnames. Patronymic surnames are those that sometimes replace a given name with a prefix such as ‘Mac’ or ‘O’, while derivative surnames are often variations which were adopted by a branch of the family in order to distinguish themselves from their relatives. Some common related surnames include Buckley, Bukash, Buks, Bukashe, Bueckenheuer, and Bueckers.
Famous people with the name Bucke
- Richard Maurice Bucke: poet and Canadian psychiatrist known for his work with Walt Whitman.
- William Ernest Bucke: one of the first psychiatrists to recognize and diagnose dementia praecox.
- Malcolm Bucke: American actor.
- Carl Lotus Becker: American historian of science and of early modern Europe.
- Robert Owen Bucke: Canadian doctor and author.
- John M. Bucke: British broadcaster and writer.
- Cicely Mary Bucke: English actress.
- Norfolk C. Bucke: British flying ace.
- Arthur C. Bucke: English author, historian and journalist.
- Herbert W. Bucke: United Church of Canada minister and professor of church history.
- Charles G. Bucke: British politician.
- Leslie Bucke: British administrator in colonial Nigeria.
- George Chalmers Bucke: Canadian politician.
- James Bucke: British politician.
- David Bucke: English footballer.
- Michael Bucke: British footballer.
- John Bucke: Australian ornithologist.