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

Burkham, 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 Burkham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burkham in America

Burkham is the 60045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burkham surname appeared 336 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 Burkham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burkham 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 Burkham

The surname Burkham has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or manor, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a hamlet or small settlement near a fortified town or manor house.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1196, where a person named Willelmus de Burcam is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "Burcam," further reinforces the connection to the Old English roots.

In the 13th century, the name Burkham can be found in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, where a certain Robert de Burcham is listed. This indicates that the name was present in different regions of England during that time period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Burkham. However, it does mention several places with similar names, like Burcham in Berkshire, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Burkham throughout history include:

1. Sir John Burkham (c. 1450 - 1521), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in the early 16th century.

2. Thomas Burkham (1570 - 1647), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts, including "The Christian's Guide to Eternity."

3. Elizabeth Burkham (1634 - 1707), a prominent Puritan woman in colonial Massachusetts, known for her involvement in the Salem Witch Trials.

4. William Burkham (1678 - 1743), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. George in the East.

5. Sarah Burkham (1792 - 1863), a British botanist and illustrator, renowned for her detailed drawings of rare and exotic plants.

While the surname Burkham may have evolved over time and across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the Old English words that described a settlement near a fortified town or manor, reflecting the historical significance of these locations in medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burkham

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

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

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

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