The Peek surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,062 people carried this name — #3,263 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 26,700 people counted. That is up 3% from 10,694 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Peek surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘at the peak’.

An early record he cites: Isabella del Pek, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Peak, Peake, Peek and Peeke.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 592 · public domain.

In Poland’s population register

185 people named Peek have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 209 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 4 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Pomeranian.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Pomeranian 173
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 6
Warmian-Masurian 4
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.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Peek was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Cambridgeshire: 15 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 667. 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. His list gives one count for the spellings Peek and Peeke.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Cambridgeshire 15
Devon 8

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 the first U.S. census, 1790

62 families named Peek, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 344 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 6 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

New York 20
Virginia 10
South Carolina 8
Vermont 6
Maryland 5
Massachusetts 3
Pennsylvania 3
New Hampshire 2
Connecticut 2
North Carolina 2
Rhode Island 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 256 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Peek in American newspapers,
1859–1889.

Newspaper page from The Herald carrying the name Peek
The Herald 1889-01-04
Newspaper page from The Arkansian carrying the name Peek
The Arkansian 1859-12-16
Newspaper page from Arkansas True Democrat carrying the name Peek
Arkansas True Democrat 1860-03-21

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,840 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Peek in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

20,046 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Peek. The most, 2,701, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 9,731
South Australia 3,360
Queensland 2,911
Victoria 2,173
Western Australia 1,157
Tasmania 601
ACT (Canberra) 69
Northern Territory 5

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

Who carried it

People named Peek,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Richard Peek
    Richard Peek 1782–1867 · abolitionist
  • Catherine Peek d. 2021 · songwriter
  • Agnes Peek d. 1870
  • Ruby Joy Ann Duff d. 1968
  • Annatie Peek 1651–1690
  • John Peek 1751–1847

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Peek,
in the records of 8 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 States805 records

805 records of the Peek name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 411
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 170
  • Other U.S. records 224
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record John Foreman Peek

    Born 1941; from Pontiac, Michigan. U.S. Navy, builder; killed in action 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. Buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Michigan.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Laura G. Peek

    Born 1916 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1943 in the Women's Army Corps at Fort Devens, Massachusetts; office clerk. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Bath National Cemetery, New York.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the Martha from Stettin, aged 24; servant. From Prussia, Germany; bound for Wisconsin.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 805 records for Peek in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · 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. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Netherlands6,763 records

6,763 records of the Peek name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 4,067
  • Dutch population registers 1,852
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 844
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Theodorus Peek

    Married in 1868 in Bemmel; labourer, born 1845 in Vianen. Died 1929 in Bemmel, aged 83.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Antje Peek

    Married in 1858 in Purmerend; domestic servant. Died 1860 in Purmerend, aged 30.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Wilhelmina Elisabetha Peek

    Married in 1876 in Arnhem; domestic servant. Died 1888 in Utrecht, aged 36.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6,763 records for Peek 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).

Australia154 records

154 records of the Peek name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 65
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 54
  • Other Australian records 35
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Charles Edward Peek

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Clyde, arriving 1832; ticket of leave 1837.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Edward Peek

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Hyderabad, aged 8; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Leslie G. Peek

    Soldier of Queensland, Victoria; died 1916.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 154 records for Peek in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); 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).

Germany74 records

74 records of the Peek 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 Gerhard Peek

    Born 1897; from Wachhun, Hümmling. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 8 February 1919 (Infantry Regiment No. 53).

    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 Wilhelm Peek

    From Stemmen, Bückeburg. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 29 September 1917.

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

Showing 2 of 74 records for Peek 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).

New Zealand24 records

24 records of the Peek name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 19
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 4
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Honor Peek

    Died 1931, aged 76; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alice Margaret Peek

    Died 1990, aged 82; buried at Picton Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record G. Peek

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

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

Showing 3 of 24 records for Peek in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Canada13 records

13 records of the Peek name in Canada
  • Halifax municipal cemeteries 5
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 5
  • Other Canadian records 3
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Philip Pearce Peek

    Buried in 1969 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 90.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Adelaide Kate Peek

    Died 1970 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 88.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Richard Alfred Peek

    Died in service in 1917.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 13 records for Peek in Canada.

Counts: Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. 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); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom9 records

9 records of the Peek name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 6
  • Stirling Council burial records 2
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Richard J. Peek

    Died 1990, aged 40; buried at Gargunnock Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. Peek

    Northamptonshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thomas Edward Peek

    Died 1895, aged 46; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 9 records for Peek in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France2 records

2 records of the Peek 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 Francis Peek

    Born 1915 in Great Britain; died 1996 in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes).

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

    Born 1916 in Great Britain; died 2001 in Alès (Gard).

    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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Peek.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Peek 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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