Bourke
Derived from the Irish surname de Búrca, meaning "from the fort" or "of the borough."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,913 Americans carry the last name Bourke. That puts it at #12,370 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.85 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 117,664 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bourke 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
2.9K
1 in 117,664
Census rank
#12,370
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,514 bearers of the surname Bourke in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.85 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12370th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bourke, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bourke
The surname Bourke originates from Ireland and dates back to the 12th century when the Anglo-Norman de Burghs arrived in the country. The name is derived from the Old French word "burgh," meaning a small fortified village or town. The Bourkes were one of the first Norman families to settle in Ireland, establishing themselves in the counties of Limerick, Tipperary, and Mayo.
The earliest recorded reference to the Bourke name is found in the Annals of Innisfallen, a medieval Irish chronicle, where it is mentioned as early as 1194. The name appears in various spellings, such as de Burgo, Burgh, and Bourke, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the Bourke surname is Sir John Bourke, born around 1420 in County Mayo. He was a prominent military commander and played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses. Another famous Bourke was Sir Richard Bourke, born in 1777, who served as the Governor of New South Wales, Australia, from 1831 to 1837.
The Bourke name is also associated with place names, such as Bourke County in New South Wales, Australia, named after Sir Richard Bourke, and the town of Bourke in the same county. Additionally, the Bourke River and the Bourke Range in Queensland, Australia, were named after Sir Richard Bourke.
Other notable individuals with the Bourke surname include Edmund Bourke, an Irish Catholic philosopher and theologian born in 1753, and Robert Bourke, born in 1844, who was an Australian politician and served as the Premier of Victoria from 1893 to 1894.
The Bourke name has a rich history in Ireland, with many prominent families and individuals contributing to various aspects of society, including military, politics, and academia. While the surname has spread worldwide, its roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Norman settlers who played a significant role in shaping the history of Ireland.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bourke
Among Census respondents with the surname Bourke, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Bourke 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 Bourke surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.9%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Black or African American2.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.9%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bourke 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,788 | #12,370 | -4.9% |
| Count | 2,434 | 2,514 | 3.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.90 | 0.85 | -5.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bourke bearers went from 2,434 to 2,514 (+3.3% change). The surname moved down 582 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,788 to #12,370.
FAQ
Bourke surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bourke?
The surname Bourke holds position #12,370 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,913 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.85 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bourke surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bourke, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (2.4%). 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.