2010
#160,975
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Barki
A locational surname from places named Barki in Poland.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 112 Americans carry the last name Barki. That puts it at #156,269 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,060,307 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Barki surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
112
1 in 3,060,307
Census rank
#156,269
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
98
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 98 bearers of the surname Barki in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156269th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Barki, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (22.4%) and Black (10.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Barki
The surname BARKI is thought to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "barkī," which means "lightning" or "thunderbolt." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who possessed qualities such as swiftness, power, or strength.
In the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in areas now known as Pakistan and parts of northern India, the BARKI surname was prominent among various communities and social groups. Some historical records indicate that the name was also present in parts of Central Asia, potentially reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges that occurred throughout the region's history.
One of the earliest known references to the BARKI surname can be found in the Persian-language texts and manuscripts from the Mughal era, which spanned the 16th to the 19th centuries. These texts often recorded the names of individuals involved in various aspects of society, including administrative roles, scholarly pursuits, and military endeavors.
In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the BARKI surname was Mirza Muhammad Barki, a renowned scholar and poet from the city of Delhi. His works, which spanned various genres, including poetry and historical accounts, have been preserved and studied by academics and literary enthusiasts alike.
Another prominent individual with the BARKI surname was Hakim Zia Barki, a celebrated physician and scholar who lived in the 19th century. Hailing from the city of Lahore, he made significant contributions to the field of traditional medicine and was widely respected for his expertise in Unani and Ayurvedic practices.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the BARKI surname was also associated with several notable figures in the realms of politics and social reform. Maulana Muhammad Ali Barki, born in 1878, was a prominent leader and activist who advocated for the rights of marginalized communities and played a crucial role in the independence movement of the Indian subcontinent.
Another notable figure was Sir Abdul Qadir Barki, a distinguished statesman and diplomat who served in various high-ranking positions during the British Raj era. Born in 1885, he was recognized for his contributions to strengthening diplomatic ties and promoting cultural exchange between the Indian subcontinent and other nations.
While the BARKI surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical records and accounts mentioned above provide valuable insights into the origins and significance of this surname within the cultural and social fabric of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Barki
Among Census respondents with the surname Barki, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (22.4%) and Black (10.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Barki bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Barki surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White59.2% · 58
- Asian and Pacific Islander22.4% · 22
- Black or African American10.2% · 10
- Two or more races5.1% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Barki
Barki appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#156,269
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 98
-2 bearers (-2.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 4,706 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #160,975 | 100 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #156,269 | 98 | 0.03 | -2 bearers (-2.0%) | Up 4,706 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Barki surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #160,975 | #156,269 | 2.9% |
| Count | 100 | 98 | -2.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 9.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Barki bearers went from 100 to 98 (-2.0% change). The surname moved up 4,706 positions in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #156,269.
FAQ
Barki surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Barki?
Name Census estimates that about 112 living Americans carry the surname Barki. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,060,307 residents.
How common is Barki?
Barki ranks #156,269 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 98 people with the surname Barki. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (112), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Barki.
Has Barki become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Barki went from 100 recorded bearers to 98. That is a decrease of 2 (-2.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #160,975 to #156,269.
What does the Census say about the background of Barki?
Among Census respondents with the surname Barki, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.2%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (22.4%) and Black (10.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Barki in the 2020 Census, accounting for 59.2% (58 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Barki appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (59.2%), Asian/Pacific Islander (22.4%), Black (10.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Barki (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Barki mean?
A locational surname from places named Barki in Poland. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Barki (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Barki?
You can see how many Americans have the surname Barki on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.