What is the origin of the last name Heckelbeck?

I dont know my fathers side of the family so I dont know Anything about were the name comes from or anything to do with my family tree.

What is the origin of the last name Heckelbeck?
well i cant say for certain...but i know beck is very popular in germany...


i would guess you are german!
Reply:They *seem* connected, but the reality is that where a name comes from, and your family tree (dad's side or otherwise) are two distinct topics.


Origins of a surname are almost always debatable. In other words, you will probably find Heckelbeck in more than one location, with no reliable way of finding which is "correct". Or, you might find, in doing research, that the name was something else entirely and got "Americanized".


Tracing ancestry is based in finding reliable "proof", or historical records that are not locked into a surname. The records concern individual persons, who (if done right), you KNOW are your own ancestors or relatives. Instead of thinking of a family tree, you 'work' it, one generation/person at a time, to avoid being overwhelmed.


Since you mention you don't know your dad's side of the family, sounds as if there has been separation from them (not asking you to explain). The usual advice is to first talk to the relatives, and collect as much as you can about names, dates, places... then start finding the documentation (that leads further back). MANY people don't have that option.


If you happen to have any way of knowing the names of his parents, if they have died, then they should be in the social security death index. That's assuming you are in the US. Once someone has died, then you have better chances of finding what would otherwise be confidential information. With the dates and place of death, you can order their death certificates, find possible obituaries, and then you will have information to lead you back.


I took a quick look, and find 5 entries in the ssdi for the name.. 4 women, 1 man, and most seem linked to Illinois.


Once you start tracing back, you will eventually find the "immigrant ancestor".. the one born overseas that came here. His place of birth will then be the link you need.


Good luck, and come back often


Hope this helps give you a start.
Reply:It originated in Germany long ago and literally means: "Toadlicker"





Hope this helped and Good Luck!!!...
Reply:I would guess German. However, FamilySearch.org has one from France. This could be from the region of Alsace where a lot of the population is of German origin.





The origin of surnames do not mean to much in genealogy as the same surname all too often can come from more than one nationality.





To really know your father's ancestry, you need to trace his family, starting with him and working back. If you ever wish to do that, there are a lot of people on this board who can give you some great ideas. Just ask.





Also see the link below from the National Genealogical Society.





http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comconsumerp...