Burke Surname

2,007th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 272,754 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Ireland

Burke Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'de Burgh,' a sharpened pronunciation. The Irish Burkes are traced to the Anglo-Norman De Burghs, one of whom settled in Ireland soon after the acquisition of that country by the English monarchs.

Read More About This Surname

Burke Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States167,5111:2,164214
England27,7491:2,008241
Ireland20,9521:22516
Australia16,5741:1,629195
Canada16,1331:2,284255
Jamaica5,4791:52491
Northern Ireland2,2591:817145
Scotland2,2161:2,416445
New Zealand1,9451:2,328312
South Africa1,3501:40,1325,159
Wales1,3151:2,353258
Germany1,3031:61,7857,938
Barbados7521:38292
Trinidad and Tobago6521:2,092353
Thailand4981:141,84422,147
Panama4731:8,271813
Netherlands2641:63,96710,998
France2351:282,65043,409
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2331:484103
Spain2291:204,15713,931
Brazil2211:968,66234,434
Dominican Republic2161:48,3012,508
Suriname2111:2,619399
India2101:3,652,692102,297
Saudi Arabia1991:155,05422,057
Mexico1671:743,27111,182
Argentina1631:262,23021,146
Vanuatu1571:1,677485
Guyana1241:6,1471,056
Japan1191:1,074,32220,778
Cayman Islands1151:55688
Costa Rica1021:46,8631,110
Iraq1001:350,2176,594
Belgium971:118,52217,481
Belize961:3,703710
Grenada881:1,233232
Portugal851:122,5685,627
Iran801:959,78244,995
Saint Kitts and Nevis751:736152
United States Virgin Islands751:1,472241
Zimbabwe751:205,84323,645
Venezuela741:408,1638,379
Malta721:5,976398
Honduras701:125,9491,847
Switzerland701:117,32712,009
Singapore681:80,9963,278
Bahamas661:5,936559
Antigua and Barbuda621:1,600275
Bahrain591:22,8584,582
Denmark591:95,6739,081
Aruba551:1,881275
Saint Lucia551:3,251493
Ecuador541:294,5538,948
British Virgin Islands521:608111
Sweden521:189,36113,089
Guam491:3,268415
Italy461:1,329,49377,702
Finland441:124,92512,029
Philippines421:2,410,434128,915
Greece371:299,45443,754
Guernsey371:1,742400
Jersey371:2,681461
Liberia371:119,1509,110
Poland351:1,085,96474,912
Nicaragua311:194,2292,495
Russia311:4,649,131213,487
Kuwait291:131,05814,967
Israel261:329,14027,831
Austria251:340,61736,996
China251:54,692,8632,965
Isle of Man241:3,576767
Malaysia241:1,228,92653,021
Bermuda221:2,967463
Northern Cyprus221:14,5003,711
Hong Kong211:349,3093,156
Lebanon211:268,4339,626
Norway191:270,64728,127
Pakistan161:11,165,24351,703
Cyprus141:63,2056,078
Papua New Guinea141:582,40870,330
Ukraine141:3,251,621182,804
Cuba131:886,3636,304
South Korea131:3,941,558724
Turks and Caicos Islands131:2,641268
Czechia111:966,67976,885
Chile101:1,761,64727,489
Nigeria101:17,714,276277,641
Moldova91:395,70828,721
United Arab Emirates91:1,018,03036,884
American Samoa81:6,9701,431
Indonesia71:18,892,742520,071
Transnistria71:67,8149,165
Northern Mariana Islands61:9,097939
Qatar61:393,00055,922
Bolivia51:2,123,2876,830
Ghana51:5,404,13815,377
Oman51:737,5946,889
Peru51:6,356,82538,776
Yemen51:5,285,05921,214
Curaçao41:39,312638
Dominica41:18,973529
Egypt41:22,983,93862,368
French Polynesia41:70,2014,444
Haiti41:2,670,97716,453
Swaziland41:324,550996
Syria41:4,825,25612,827
Tunisia41:152,65617,743
Latvia31:683,34934,074
Monaco31:12,3552,088
Puerto Rico31:1,183,3805,289
Romania31:6,692,62378,504
Sri Lanka31:6,936,18718,422
Taiwan31:7,814,91541,694
Afghanistan21:16,076,59243,178
Angola21:13,494,60711,780
Bangladesh21:79,678,38625,993
Bulgaria21:3,489,45264,958
Kenya21:23,089,95083,168
Mongolia21:1,412,64416,950
Uganda21:19,519,640189,114
Vietnam21:46,323,0275,235
Albania11:2,914,05529,474
Algeria11:38,631,551130,422
Andorra11:83,8382,381
Anguilla11:13,436792
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Belarus11:9,501,059159,228
Botswana11:2,186,92930,250
Brunei11:418,7313,893
Cambodia11:15,487,14614,824
Cape Verde11:529,6426,792
Colombia11:47,774,07244,230
Croatia11:4,228,60499,289
El Salvador11:6,343,8888,415
Fiji11:894,3914,568
Gabon11:1,889,1946,814
Gambia11:1,923,4511,043
Georgia11:3,745,54547,852
Gibraltar11:33,9541,660
Hungary11:9,816,27773,288
Iceland11:380,09011,096
Kazakhstan11:17,682,496204,010
Lithuania11:3,034,58847,401
Luxembourg11:580,54215,155
Macau11:601,6301,582
Madagascar11:23,649,8379,420
Namibia11:2,409,40119,676
Niger11:19,192,017110,060
Rwanda11:11,364,9785,947
Slovakia11:5,336,450140,422
Somalia11:13,452,0619,224
Sudan11:37,510,19514,259
Tanzania11:52,941,613123,716
Uruguay11:3,431,75838,295
Zambia11:15,849,92253,989
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland14,4491:30724
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England7,7661:3,139444
Scotland6601:5,672838
Wales3201:4,901336
Jersey241:2,162357
Guernsey151:2,177371
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States27,9981:1,794187

The alternate forms: Bürke (901), Burkė (1) & Bűrke (1) are calculated separately.

Burke (5,412) may also be a first name.

Burke Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'de Burgh,' a sharpened pronunciation. The Irish Burkes are traced to the Anglo-Norman De Burghs, one of whom settled in Ireland soon after the acquisition of that country by the English monarchs. The name Alfric de Burc, apparently of Saxon origin, appears in the Domesday of Suffolk. In the Hundred Rolls the name of the famous Hubert de Burgh, temp. King John, is sometimes written 'de Burk.'

Geoffrey de Bark. Herefordshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Walter de Burk, Herefordshire, ibid.

Hubert de Burk, Somerset, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John de Burk, Somerset, ibid.

1792. Married — James Burke and Susannah Readding: St. George, Hanover Square.

1803. — John Bark and Elizabeth Wise: ibid.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

(English or Anglo-French-Teut.) belonging to Burgh (Suffolk) or Bourg (France) = the Stronghold. [O. Teutonic burg, a stronghold; whence O. French burg, burc, French bourg] Hubert de Burk.—Hundred Rolls John de Burk. —Hundred Rolls The family de Burgh, or Burke, has, since the reigns of Henry III. and Edward I., been esteemed one of the most opulent and powerful of the Anglo- Norman settlers in Ireland under Strong- bow. It held, by conquest and regal grant, whole territories in the counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Tipperary and Limerick.—Burke’s Peerage, etc.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

De Búrca This is one of the most important and most numerous of Hiberno-Norman names. First identified with Connacht it is now numerous in all the provinces (least in Ulster). Many sub-septs of it were formed called MacHugo, MacGibbon, Mac Seoinín (Jennings), MacRedmond (q.v.) etc. Bibl; IF 66 etc; MIF 246; Map Gal, Mayo and Tip

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(1) Place name in Ireland. (2) “Castle” or “Town” in Anglo-Norman. Originally Burgh.

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

See Bourke.

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(Irish) Dweller at, or near, the burgh or stronghold.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

A hardened pronunciation of Burgh, and equivalent to Borrowes, &c. See Burgh. The great Irish family are traced to the Anglo-Norman De Burghs, one of whom settled in Ireland soon after the acquisition of that country by the English monarchs. The name Alfric de Bure, apparently of Saxon origin, appears in the Domesd. of Suffolk. In the H.R. the name of the famous Hubert de Burgh, temp. King John, is sometimes written De Burk.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

A corruption of (De) Burgo, as the name was formerly written, that is, from the fort, castle, hill, or city. This family wens from Normandy into England with the Conqueror, and afterward into Ireland with Strongbow.

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

From the French, de Burgo; a personal name.

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

Burke Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Burke Come From? nationality or country of origin

The last name Burke (Arabic: بيرك, Georgian: ბურკე, Hindi: बुरके, Marathi: बुरके, Russian: Буркэ) is found in The United States more than any other country/territory. It can be rendered in the variant forms: Bürke, Burkė or Bűrke. Click here for other possible spellings of this name.

How Common Is The Last Name Burke? popularity and diffusion

This surname is the 2,007th most frequently held last name in the world, held by around 1 in 26,718 people. The last name Burke is predominantly found in The Americas, where 58 percent of Burke live; 54 percent live in North America and 54 percent live in Anglo-North America. It is also the 91,475th most commonly occurring given name worldwide It is held by 5,412 people.

This surname is most numerous in The United States, where it is carried by 167,511 people, or 1 in 2,164. In The United States Burke is primarily concentrated in: California, where 8 percent live, Florida, where 6 percent live and Massachusetts, where 6 percent live. Without taking into account The United States Burke occurs in 154 countries. It is also found in England, where 10 percent live and Ireland, where 8 percent live.

Burke Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The frequency of Burke has changed over time. In The United States the number of people bearing the Burke last name grew 598 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it grew 357 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Ireland it grew 145 percent between 1901 and 2014; in Scotland it grew 336 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Wales it grew 411 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Burke Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those carrying the Burke surname is predominantly Catholic (96%) in Ireland and Maronite (80%) in Lebanon.

In The United States those bearing the Burke surname are 6.63% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than The US average, with 53.4% registered with the political party.

The amount Burke earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 62.41% more than the national average, earning 562,082 kr per year; in South Africa they earn 57.68% more than the national average, earning R 374,712 per year; in United States they earn 6.92% more than the national average, earning $46,133 USD per year and in Canada they earn 1.12% more than the national average, earning $50,239 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Bürke93901/
Burkė931/
Bűrke931/
Bourke9130,821/
Bhurke916,017/
Burkey915,674/
Buhrke91470/
Buerke91285/
Buurke91215/
Burkee91176/
Burcke91103/
Burkie9130/
Burkei9129/
Burkhe9113/
Burkez914/
Buirke912/
Burked912/
Burrke912/
Burkeu911/
Burkej911/
Burgke911/
Baurke910/
Beurke910/
Burk8927,316/
Buurkes83121/
Beurket8356/
Burkesh8323/
Bhurkhe8318/
Buråker8312/
Burckey8312/
Burkeet835/
Buercke834/
Bhurkke834/
Bourkes833/
Burkket833/
Burckie832/
Burkead831/
Burkees831/
Burkeit831/
Burkess831/
Burkhed831/
Burkhes831/
Burcket831/
Bourker831/
Baurkee831/
Burkest831/
Burkeha831/
Bourket831/
Buirkes830/
Burcked830/
Burkhet830/
Burkets830/
Bourkee830/
Bourcke830/
Burka8011,736/
Burce806,924/
Burki803,512/
Burck801,792/
Borke801,033/
Burky80557/
Bourk80468/
Burkh8058/
Burgk8022/
Burkt8013/
Burkø808/
Burkx806/
Burkk805/
Baurk801/
Buirk801/
Beurk801/
Bujrk800/
Burrk800/
Burckett7758/
Burkeitt7717/
Burrkett772/
Burkeich771/
Burkhedt771/
Burkheit771/
Bourkett770/
Burckead770/
Baurkett770/
Burkheis770/
Burcea7310,690/
Burkay731,419/
Bourki731,061/
Borkey73645/
Burque73448/
Bource73351/
Bürker73313/
Bhurka73215/
Burgue73208/
Bührke73198/
Bourka73151/
Bierke73143/
Boerke73134/
Buerki73133/
Burkhi73114/
Burksh73113/
Burche7397/
Burcky7361/
Buerky7360/
Bourck7356/
Bhurki7355/
Borcke7349/
Burcks7348/
Burzki7328/
Burkyt7326/
Burkha7318/
Burkoy7315/
Bourks7315/
Bourqe7313/
Vurcke7311/
Borkhe738/
Burzka738/
Bhirke737/
Burkka737/
Burkaa736/
Mbourk734/
Burkoj734/
Burcey733/
Burkät733/
Burkai733/
Burkhy733/
Bhorke732/
Burkuy732/
Boorke732/
Burkiy731/
Burkoa731/
Buurks731/
Burkaá731/
Burkij731/
Bürket731/
Borkea731/
Borkei731/
Borkej731/
D'Burk731/
Borkee731/
Baurks730/
Hburks730/
Bourky730/
Burkquest715/
Burckhett711/
Bourckett711/
Burkkeitt710/
Bourque6725,054/
Bork6717,628/
Burg6715,828/
Burkova6710,780/
Burquez67980/
Bourgue67931/
Bourkha67899/
Burc67241/
Bourkaa67208/
Burq67139/
Burquet67131/
Bourcey67108/
Burková67107/
Buyırık67103/
Burkhai6753/
Burques6739/
Bourche6738/
Burkich6730/
Burkaya6723/
Burkhay6722/
Bhurkha679/
Burchee678/
Burchea677/
Burkhiy676/
Burcheh676/
Bourgki676/
Boerkei675/
Burx674/
Burkiss673/
Baurque673/
Burchey673/
Bürcker672/
Mpurkey671/
Burkish671/
Burqest671/
Bourkis671/
Bourqez671/
Bhurkhi671/
Bhurkka671/
Bhuurka671/
Boercke671/
Burkait671/
Borkeah671/
Buerque671/
Burkchi671/
Bürkhed671/
Bourkai671/
Bourkay671/
Butrkit671/
Burkith670/
Buercky670/
Burrcey670/
Borckey670/
Buirque670/

Burke Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Burke in the Georgian language
ბურკეburke-
Burke in the Hindi language
बुरकेburake-
Burke in the Marathi language
बुरकेburake55
बुकbuka42.5
बुरकेानेburakeane2.5
Burke in the Russian language
Буркэburke-
Burke in the Arabic language
بيركbyrk-
بوركbwrk-
بوركيbwrky-

Search for Another Surname

Burke Reference & Research

Burks FamilyTree DNA Group - A group collating DNA test results for those who bear the surname, includes results of DNA tests and discussions.

Burks FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

The name statistics are still in development, sign up for information on more maps and data

By signing up to the mailing list you will only receive emails specifically about name reference on Forebears and your information will not be distributed to 3rd parties.

Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Burke
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis