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

Burkes, 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 Burkes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burkes in America

Burkes is the 8655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burkes surname appeared 3,796 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 Burkes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burkes 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 Burkes

The surname Burkes is of Anglo-Norman origin and is derived from the Old French word "burgh" or "bourg," meaning a small town or village. It is believed to have originated in England during the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name was initially a locational name given to someone who lived in or near a small village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burkes can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Burgh." This record indicates that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century. Over time, the spelling evolved to various forms such as Burgh, Burghe, and eventually Burkes.

During the Middle Ages, the Burkes family held significant power and influence in various parts of England and Ireland. One notable member of the family was William de Burgh (c. 1160-1206), a powerful Anglo-Norman nobleman who served as Lord of Connaught and played a crucial role in the Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century.

Another prominent figure with the surname Burkes was Elizabeth Burgh (c. 1284-1327), an English noblewoman who was the daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, and the wife of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots. She played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England.

In the 16th century, Sir John Burkes (c. 1500-1550) was an English soldier and courtier who served under King Henry VIII. He held various positions, including Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Lord Deputy of Ireland.

William Burkes (1608-1679), an English Puritan clergyman and writer, was a prominent figure during the English Civil War. He was a member of the Westminster Assembly and authored several religious works, including "Vindiciæ Legis," a defense of the moral law.

Thomas Burkes (1719-1797) was an Irish-born British explorer and author who is best known for his travels and writings on Spanish America. His work, "An Account of the Spanish Settlements in America," published in 1757, provided valuable insights into the Spanish colonies in the Americas.

The Burkes surname has been associated with various places and locations throughout history, such as Burgh Castle in Norfolk, England, and the town of Burgh in Suffolk, England. The name has also been linked to various noble families and estates, including the de Burgh family, who held lands in Ireland and England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burkes

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

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

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

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