Buerk last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Buerk

A locational surname derived from a place name in Germany.

Buerk, 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 Buerk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Buerk in America

Buerk is the 49546th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Buerk surname appeared 424 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Buerk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Buerk 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 49546 51945 -4.73%
Count 424 376 12.00%
Proportion per 100k 0.14 0.14 0.00%

The history of the last name Buerk

The surname BUERK is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "burc," which means a fortified town or a castle. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have resided near or been associated with a particular fortification or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BUERK surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the 11th century. In these records, the name appears as "Burck," which is likely an earlier spelling variation. The presence of this name in such ancient texts implies that the BUERK lineage has a rich and long-standing history.

During the 13th century, the BUERK surname emerged in various regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around the Rhine River. Historical records from this time period, such as the Annales Fuldenses, mention individuals bearing the name BUERK, indicating their presence and influence in the local communities.

Notably, the BUERK surname is also associated with several prominent figures throughout history. One such individual was Johannes BUERK, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 15th century (c. 1420-1478). His contributions to the field of theology and his writings on religious matters earned him a notable reputation during the Renaissance period.

Another notable bearer of the BUERK surname was Wilhelm BUERK (1760-1825), a German composer and violinist who rose to prominence in the early 19th century. His compositions, particularly his violin concertos, were widely acclaimed and performed throughout Europe during his lifetime.

In the realm of literature, the name BUERK is associated with the German writer and poet, Ernst BUERK (1876-1944). His poetic works, which often explored themes of nature and human emotions, garnered critical acclaim and continue to be studied and appreciated by literary scholars.

Moreover, the BUERK surname has also been linked to various place names throughout Germany. For instance, the town of Burken in Baden-Württemberg is believed to have derived its name from the same Old German root as the surname BUERK, further emphasizing the connection between the name and its geographical origins.

While the surname BUERK has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, its essence and historical significance have remained intact, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and legacy of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Buerk

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

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 Buerk was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.52% 405
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.83% 12
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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 Buerk has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.52% 98.40% -2.97%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 2.83% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

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

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

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"Buerk last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 3, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/buerk-surname-popularity/.

"Buerk last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/buerk-surname-popularity/. Accessed 3 July, 2025

Buerk last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/buerk-surname-popularity/.

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