Surname Queck - Meaning and Origin

Queck: What does the surname Queck mean?

The last name Queck is a German surname derived from the word "quecksilber," meaning "mercury." It's an occupational name that refers to someone who collects and processes mercury ore. In the medieval period and beyond, mercury ore was mined and used for various industrial processes, such as tanning leather and dyeing fabrics.

People with this last name likely had some kind of affinity for metals and worked in chemical industries. Over time, Queck began to evolve in different parts of Germany and other European countries. Members of the Queck family have spread throughout Europe, and in some cases the name has been Anglicized phonetically as "Quick."

Today, members of the Queck family are spread across the globe. They are a diverse people with differing cultural backgrounds. Some members work in the mining or scientific industries, while others are involved in engineering, finance, or other fields.

No matter what area of life a Queck today is found in, their roots remain the same –the hardworking and resourceful Quecks of medieval times. These people persevered through difficult times and found creative solutions, which likely immediate and subsequent generations of the Queck family have also carried through.

Queck: Where does the name Queck come from?

The last name Queck is most commonly found in Germany, specifically in the the northern half of the country. Originally derived from a Germanic medieval given name, it is believed to be of local origin. Although the name is found across all German states, its highest frequency is in the northern parts, particularly in Prussia and Brandenburg, as well as in the city of Berlin.

Queck is also a relatively common surname in Austria, occurring in the central and eastern regions as well as in Vienna. It is the second most popular surname in the Upper Austrian city of Urfahr, and is also found in Styria and in Carinthia.

At the present time, there are many bearers of the name Queck spread across Europe. The name can also be found in the United States and Canada, where it is particularly common amongst German immigrants, and in the UK too, where at least one family bearing the name can be found in Birmingham.

Variations of the surname Queck

The surname Queck is derived from a Middle High German version of the old Germanic name, Kucke, which means ‘little goat’, probably referring to someone who kept or raised goats. Over time, various spellings have arisen from the original form, particularly following emigration from Germany to other countries.

Variant spellings of the name include Quick, Quickes, Quekes, Queckes, Quicke, Kwick, Kuick, Kweck, and Kwickes. Occasionally, it is also spelled Kweick. In other cases, the name may be further contamined with other surnames such as Hueck, Deck, Weck, and Wick.

One of the more common derivatives of Queck is Quick, which is most widely found in the United States. Quicke is a variant often found in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, while Kwick and Kvich are two variants found more in Germany.

In addition to the variants of Queck, there are also several other surnames of a similar origin which may be related to the Queck family. These surnames include Quinck, Quecken, Queckhaus, Heck, Kock, and Kucke.

Although Queck may have derived from Germanic origins, many assumed that the name was English in origin, and thus spelled it according to English pronunciation, such as Quack, Quackenbush, Quackenfeld, and Quaken.

Therefore, there are many different variations of the surname Queck, all with connotations of the same origin. Despite whatever spelling they have adopted, all Queck descendents have descended from the Middle High German name Kucke.

Famous people with the name Queck

• Stephan Queck: Stephan Queck is a German triathlete and National Champion in Duathlon. He is a two-time National Champion in Run & Bike, two-time winner of the Xterra Trail Running German Championship and current Skyrunning World Champion.
• Ernst Queck: Ernst Queck was a German actor and film director. Queck worked primarily in the silent film era and his films include The Cobbler's Apprentice (1920), The Call of Death (1921) and The White Horse Inn (1926).
• Klaus Queck: Klaus Queck is a former professional football (soccer) player who represented Germany in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. He played for numerous teams in his career, including 1. FC Köln, VfB Stuttgart, and FC Bayern Munich.
• Joachim Queck: Joachim Queck is a German jazz double bassist and composer. His career has spanned numerous genres, including classical, contemporary, and improvised music.
• Christine Queck: Christine Queck is a German politician and Member of the Bundestag. She has been a representative since 2009, representing the Social Democratic Party of Germany in her constituency.
• Anna Queck: Anna Queck is a German professional dressage rider. She has represented Germany in multiple international competitions, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2013 European Championships.
• Carsten Queck: Carsten Queck is a German football coach and former player who is the current manager of FSV Mainz 05. Queck has also been the head coach of VfB Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Hannover 96.

Other surnames

Quecke

Comments or additions to the name "Queck"

26.02.2024
What's that crap? The famous people are bullshit