The Ten Eyck family came from the Netherlands to New Amsterdam in the 1630s. The patriarch of the American branch of the family was Coenraedt Ten Eyck, who was originally from Moers. His son Jacob moved to Albany where he was a silversmith. Several family members gained land, wealth and positions of power in Albany, New York City and New Jersey. Their descendants served as Albany Mayor, New York State Senator, U.S. Representatives from New York, and U.S. Senator from New Jersey. The Ten Eycks also formed several businesses, including the Ten Eyck hotel and the Ten Eyck insurance group.

John Conover Ten Eyck was a United States Senator from New Jersey from 1859 to 1865, during the American Civil War. He was a member of the Republican Party.