Find out how popular the last name Berk is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Berk.

Berk, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Berk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Berk in America

Berk is the 8736th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Berk surname appeared 3,754 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Berk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Berk to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Berk

The surname BERK is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages, likely derived from the Old English word "beorc," meaning a birch tree. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent birch tree or a settlement surrounded by birch trees.

The earliest known record of the name BERK dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as a place name in several counties, including Berkshire and Gloucestershire. This indicates that the surname may have been adopted by individuals living in or near those locations.

In the 13th century, various spellings of the name emerged, such as Berke, Berk, and Birke, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname BERK was John Berk, a landowner in Berkshire mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1199. Another notable figure was William Berk, a prominent merchant from Bristol who was granted a royal charter by King Edward III in the 14th century.

During the 16th century, the BERK surname gained prominence with the rise of the Berk family of Gloucestershire. Sir John Berk (1516-1589) was a renowned military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I, while his son, Thomas Berk (1545-1621), was a Member of Parliament and a respected scholar.

In the 17th century, the name BERK spread across England, with several notable individuals emerging. John Berk (1625-1688) was a influential Puritan minister and author, while Robert Berk (1650-1718) was a successful merchant and philanthropist in London.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the BERK surname continued to be associated with various professions and achievements. Notable individuals included Sir James Berk (1745-1823), a prominent architect who designed several iconic buildings in London, and Mary Berk (1788-1865), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Berk

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Berk.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Berk was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Berk has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Berk was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Berk, please contact us.

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