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

Berki, 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 Berki surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Berki in America

Berki is the 104819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Berki surname appeared 158 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Berki.

The history of the last name Berki

The surname Berki has its origins in Hungary, a country with a rich and varied history in surname development. The name appears to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. Hungary at this time was a melting pot of various cultures and languages, which influenced the development of surnames.

The surname Berki is derived from the Hungarian word "berki," which means "from the birch grove." The word "berki" itself originates from "bérc," an old Hungarian term for a hill or a mountain range, often covered with birch trees. Therefore, the name Berki initially served as a topographic surname for individuals who lived near or were associated with such landscapes.

Historical records indicate that the surname Berki appeared in various documents throughout medieval Hungary. For instance, a 14th-century land registry mentions a family named Berki in the region of Transylvania, pointing to the family’s prominence in local affairs. Additionally, the name was often spelled as Berkÿ or Berky in older records.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Berki comes from a 1358 document referencing Mihály Berki, a notable landowner in what is now modern-day Slovakia, once part of the Kingdom of Hungary. His involvement in regional politics is well-documented, making him one of the most prominent early bearers of the name.

In the 16th century, István Berki, a lesser-known nobleman, played a role in the defense against Ottoman invasions. His name is found in various military records of the era, demonstrating the surname's presence in the historical accounts of Hungary’s turbulent period.

Another significant figure bearing the surname is Ferenc Berki, a scholar and writer in the 18th century. Born in 1723 and dying in 1794, his contributions to Hungarian literature and his involvement in academic circles made him a well-respected figure of his time.

The 19th century saw the rise of János Berki, an influential political figure. Born in 1805 and dying in 1862, he was known for his advocacy of Hungarian independence during the nationalist movements sweeping through Europe. His political writings and speeches are well-preserved in Hungarian archives.

Finally, Pál Berki, born in 1880 and died in 1943, was a celebrated composer and musician. His works contributed significantly to Hungarian folk music's preservation and popularization, earning him a lasting legacy in the country's cultural history.

Over the centuries, the surname Berki has carried with it a sense of place and heritage, reflecting the landscapes and cultural histories of Hungary.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Berki

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Berki 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.

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 Berki was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!