Etymology and HistoryBuck is an English given name and surname, originally a nickname for someone who resembled a male deer, from Old English bucc. As a first name, it emerged in the 19th century, often as a nickname for a handsome or vigorous man, or for someone associated with deer hunting. The surname Buck has multiple origins: in England, it may also be a topographic name from Middle English buk (modern beech), referring to a beech tree. In German and Dutch, Buck is often a shortened form of Burkhard or Burchard, while in northern Germany and Denmark it may derive from Middle Low German bûk meaning "belly" or "paunch," perhaps a nickname for a stout person. It can also be a variant of Bock or Puck.Cultural Significance and BearersThe name Buck has been popularized in American culture through literary and film characters. Buck is the protagonist of Jack London's 1903 novel The Call of the Wild, a powerful dog embodying wildness and endurance. The name also appears in the American comic strip Buck Rogers, a space adventurer, and in Taken as the scarred adversary Brian Mills. Notable real-life bearers include American baseball pitcher Buck Showalter and football coach Buck Nystrom.Related FormsVariants and related names include the German-Dutch surname Burkhard and its derivatives. For the given name, the feminine form is rare but sometimes used: Bucky as a diminutive. Cognates in other languages are uncommon, as the name is primarily English.Meaning: "male deer" (nickname)Origin: EnglishType: Given name & surnameUsage: English-speaking countries