The Look surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,222 people carried this name — #7,843 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 69,900 people counted. That is up 5% from 4,037 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Look surname

A surname transferred from the given name.

From Luke (“a given name”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Look» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Luke’.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 494 · public domain.

In Poland’s population register

45 people named Look have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 51 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 3 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Kuyavian-Pomeranian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Kuyavian-Pomeranian 31
Pomeranian 12
West Pomeranian 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 33 people named Look live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Misiones.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Misiones 33

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In the Nordic population registers

60 people named Look is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 60

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Look was found among the farmers of Somerset: 12 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Somerset 12

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Look in American newspapers,
1879–1920.

Newspaper page from The New Orleans Daily Democrat carrying the name Look
The New Orleans Daily Democrat 1879-09-05
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Look
Daily Kennebec Journal 1920-08-20
Newspaper page from The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register carrying the name Look
The White Mountain Echo And Tourist's Register 1904-09-17

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,277 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Look in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

31,132 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Look. The most, 5,546, date from the 1910s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 9,294
Victoria 8,078
Queensland 6,416
South Australia 3,077
Western Australia 1,987
Tasmania 1,802
ACT (Canberra) 266
Northern Territory 44

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Look.

Who carried it

People named Look,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Susan Look Avery
    Susan Look Avery 1817–1915 · writer
  • Dwight B. Look
    Dwight B. Look 1820–1899 · politician
  • Christina Lee
    Christina Lee 1925–2022 · businessperson
  • Heinrich August Look 1841–1885 · supervisor
  • David M. Look 1863–1945 · businessperson
  • Miriam MacMillan 1905–1987 · photographer

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 9 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Look,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States419 records

419 records of the Look name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 124
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 89
  • Other U.S. records 206
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Stuart A. Look

    Born 1925 in Illinois. Enlisted 1943 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; checker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1992, buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Anna Look

    Arrived at New York in 1891 aboard the Westernland from Antwerp, aged 18; laborer. From Baden, Germany; bound for Chicago.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. A U.S. Army record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864
    Example: U.S. burial record, 1864
    Burial record Robert Oren Look

    U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. Born 1932, died 1999; buried at Weedsport Rural Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 419 records for Look in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864, U.S. National Archives (public domain).

Netherlands195 records

195 records of the Look name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 90
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 90
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 15
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Theodora Look

    Married in 1873 in Groesbeek; maidservant. Died 1916 in Groesbeek, aged 74.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Jan Look

    Died 1814 in Hulst, aged 70; gardener.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Hendrina Look

    In the population register of Nijmegen; maidservant, born 1827 in Goch.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Nijmegen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 195 records for Look in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Germany174 records

174 records of the Look name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Wilhelm Look

    Born 1885; from Oberhausen. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 21 October 1914; then reported dead in the list of 3 April 1919 (Infantry Regiment No. 17).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Arthur Look

    From Gr. Lotwig, Pinneberg. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 26 February 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 175).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Heinrich Look

    From Udienerfeld, Cleve {korr.: Üdemerfeld}. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 21 June 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 174 records for Look in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Australia60 records

60 records of the Look name in Australia
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 32
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 15
  • Other Australian records 13
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William R. Look

    Arrived in Queensland in 1909 aboard the Waipara, aged 35.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Ernest James Look

    Representative of Reservoir, Victoria; died 1997.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Young Lick Look

    Of Ultimo, New South Wales; died 1929.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 60 records for Look in Australia.

Counts: Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada26 records

26 records of the Look name in Canada
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 12
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 12
  • Other Canadian records 2
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Helena Look

    Died 1977, aged 77; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Mah Yim Look

    Died 1949; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Richard George M. Look

    Died 1943 in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 26 records for Look in Canada.

Counts: City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Look name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Mardochee Look

    Born 1936 in Morocco; died 2000 in Gennevilliers (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Rose Look

    Born 1894 in Lillers (Pas-de-Calais); died 1975 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

United Kingdom1 record

1 record of the Look name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record F. C. Look

    London Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Look.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Look is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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