Berke
Derived from a place name meaning "birch tree" in Old English, likely referring to someone living near birch trees.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,188 Americans carry the last name Berke. That puts it at #11,504 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.93 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 107,514 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Berke surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
3.2K
1 in 107,514
Census rank
#11,504
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,734 bearers of the surname Berke in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.93 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11504th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Berke, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.5%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Berke
The surname BERKE is believed to have originated in Germany. It is derived from the Old German word "berc" or "berg," meaning "hill" or "mountain." This suggests that the name may have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near or on a hill or mountain.
The earliest recorded instances of the name BERKE can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany. It is possible that the name may have been influenced by the German place name "Berg," which is a town located in the state of Bavaria.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname BERKE was Johannes Berke, a merchant who lived in the city of Cologne in the late 14th century. In the 15th century, there are records of a family named Berke residing in the town of Erfurt, in the central region of Germany.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BERKE surname spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Switzerland. In the Netherlands, the name was sometimes spelled as "Berke" or "Berken," while in Switzerland, it was often written as "Bercker."
A notable figure with the surname BERKE was Johann Gottfried Berke (1711-1786), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Leipzig. Another individual of note was Friedrich Wilhelm Berke (1790-1868), a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits.
In the 19th century, the BERKE surname made its way across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States and Canada, as many German immigrants sought new opportunities in the New World. One such individual was Christian Berke (1822-1895), who was born in Germany and later settled in Pennsylvania, where he worked as a farmer.
Another notable figure with the BERKE surname was Friedrich August Berke (1827-1908), a German botanist and mycologist who made significant contributions to the study of fungi. He published numerous works on the subject and is considered one of the pioneers in the field of mycology.
As the BERKE surname spread throughout different regions and countries, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Berke," "Bercke," "Bercken," and "Bercker." However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the Old German word "berc" or "berg," reflecting its topographic origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Berke
Among Census respondents with the surname Berke, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.5%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Berke bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Berke surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.7%
- Black or African American8.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Two or more races1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Berke surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,504 | #11,504 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,734 | 2,734 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.93 | 0.93 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Berke bearers went from 2,734 to 2,734 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #11,504 to #11,504.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Berke
FAQ
Berke surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Berke?
The surname Berke holds position #11,504 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,188 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.93 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Berke surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Berke, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.5%) and Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.