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

Burkhead, 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 Burkhead surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burkhead in America

Burkhead is the 12454th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burkhead surname appeared 2,492 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 Burkhead.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burkhead 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 Burkhead

The surname Burkhead has its origins in the German language, specifically in the region of Bavaria. It is believed to have originated sometime during the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the German word "Burg," which means "castle" or "fortified town," and "Kopf," meaning "head" or "summit." Essentially, the name refers to someone who lived near or at the top of a fortified town or castle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burkhead can be found in a manuscript from the year 1274, which mentions a certain "Johannes Burckhovet" residing in the town of Nuremberg. This document provides evidence of the name's existence during the medieval period in Germany.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a family by the name of Burckheadt is mentioned as prominent landowners and merchants. This suggests that the name had already established itself as a respectable surname among the German nobility and bourgeoisie.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling began to emerge. In England, for instance, the name was sometimes spelled as "Birkhead" or "Burkhead," while in France it took on the form "Bourquehaye" or "Bourquehaut."

One notable figure bearing the surname Burkhead was Wilhelm Burkhead (1634-1701), a German philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the field of ethics and moral philosophy. His writings on the nature of virtue and the pursuit of happiness were widely studied and debated during his lifetime.

Another individual of note was Johann Burkhead (1770-1842), a German-born explorer and cartographer who was instrumental in mapping the American West during the early 19th century. His detailed maps and journals provided valuable information for future expeditions and settlements in the region.

In the realm of literature, the name Burkhead is associated with the American author and poet, Emily Burkhead (1895-1968). Her works, which often explored themes of nature and rural life, were celebrated for their lyrical quality and vivid imagery.

During the 19th century, the Burkhead family established itself in the United States, particularly in the state of Virginia. One prominent member of this family was William Burkhead (1832-1912), a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the Burkhead Textile Mills, a major employer in the region.

Finally, in the field of science, the name Burkhead is associated with the American biologist, Robert Burkhead (1914-1997). His pioneering research on freshwater fish species and their habitats contributed significantly to the understanding of aquatic ecosystems and the conservation of endangered species.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burkhead

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

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

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

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