Contents [hide]

Peck History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies South Africa

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Peck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Peck

What does the name Peck mean?

When the ancestors of the Peck family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Denbighshire. The surname of Peck derives from the Old English word pekke, indicating the top of a mountain or hill, and was a local name distinguishing a person who lived by a prominent peak.

Early Origins of the Peck family

The surname Peck was first found in Essex where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Peck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Peck research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1390, 1400, 1692 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Peck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peck Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Peck has been recorded under many different variations, including Peck, Pecke and others.

Early Notables of the Peck family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Robert Peck (died 1400), of Lincoln and London, English politician, Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Lincoln (1390)

Peck Ranking

In the United States, the name Peck is the 795^th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 1 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Peck is ranked the 991^st most popular surname with an estimated 7,021 people with that name. 2

Peck migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Pecks were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Peck Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Miss Elizabeth Peck, aged 4, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Defence" 3
Israel Peck, aged 7, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Defence" 3
Margery Peck, aged 40, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Defence" 3
Nathaniel Peck, who arrived in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1635 3
Mr. Richard Peck, aged 33, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Defence" 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peck Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johann Peck, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 3
Anna Catherina Peck, aged 10, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 3
Engelina Peck, aged 37, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 3
Hans Georg Peck, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 3
Hans Jerick Peck, aged 30, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peck Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Peck, who arrived in New York in 1823 with her husband and four children
Solomon R Peck, who arrived in Texas in 1835 3
Sherman Peck, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 3
Peter Peck, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 3
Silas Peck, who landed in New York, NY in 1855 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peck migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Peck Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Benjamin Peck, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
Isaac Peck, aged 13, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
Richard Peck, aged 47, who arrived in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
Richard Peck, his wife Jane and eight children settled in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1775
Mr. Caleb Peck U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peck Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Washington Peck, who landed in Canada in 1834
Chauncy Harper Peck, who landed in Canada in 1840

Peck migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Peck Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Joshua Peck, (b. 1756), aged 31, English convict who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Charlotte" on 13th May 1787, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1825 6

Peck Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Peck, (b. 1799), aged 21, British Convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 7 years for poaching, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1877 7
Mr. Joseph Peck, British Convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 7 years for poaching, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, brother to James Peck 7
William Peck, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Stephen Peck, (b. 1799), aged 37, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mr. Charles Peck, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peck migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Peck Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Peck, aged 32, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
Harriett Peck, aged 26, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
Daniel Peck, aged 32, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
Elizabeth Peck, aged 30, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
Mary Ann Peck, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peck migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 11

Peck Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Peck, (b. 1614), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 3
Mr. Francis Peck, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Peck (post 1700) +

Eldred Gregory Peck (1916-2003), American Academy Award winning film actor and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, best known for his performance as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
John Frederick Peck (1942-2025), known as The Mad Peck, American underground cartoonist, rock poster artist and disc jockey
Richard Wayne Peck (1934-2018), American novelist known for his modern young adult literature, awarded the Newbery Medal in 2001 for his novel A Year Down Yonder
Nat Peck (1925-2015), American jazz trombonist who played with Glenn Miller (1943-1945) and Don Redman (1947)
Brigadier-General Walter Raymond Peck (1896-1965), American Commanding General 2nd Air Force (1947) 13
George Wilbur Peck (1840-1916), American writer and politician, 17th Governor of Wisconsin
Charles Horton Peck (1833-1917), American mycologist who described over 2700 species of North American fungi
Jesse Truesdell Peck (1811-1883), American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Private Archie A. Peck (1894-1978), American soldier in the United States Army, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the World War I
Ralph Brazelton Peck (1912-2008), American civil engineer specializing in soil mechanics
... (Another 178 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Peck family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Owen O Peck (b. 1911), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Bracknell, Berkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 14

HMS Repulse

Mr. Robert Arthur Peck, British Chief Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 15

North Sea Flood

Denis Peck, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" who survived the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

SS Atlantic

Benhamin Peck, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charlotte
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Walter Peck. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Peck/Walter_Raymond/USA.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html