Kirk
A Scottish surname derived from the Old Norse word "kirkja," meaning "church," likely referring to someone who lived near a church.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 63,204 Americans carry the last name Kirk. That puts it at #623 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 18.44 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 5,423 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kirk 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
63K
1 in 5,423
Census rank
#623
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
18.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
54K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 54,394 bearers of the surname Kirk in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 18.44 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 623rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kirk, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.4%. The next largest groups are Black (10.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kirk
The surname Kirk is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old Norse word 'kirkja' meaning 'church'. It originated in the northern counties of Scotland, particularly in areas with a strong Viking influence during the 8th to 11th centuries.
The name likely referred to someone who lived near a church or worked in a church-related occupation. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was 'Kyrc' in the 12th century. Variations of the spelling included 'Kirke', 'Kyrke', and 'Kerke'.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England after the Norman Conquest, there are several entries of people with the name 'Kirk' or similar spellings. This suggests the name was already in use in parts of England by the late 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kirk was William Kyrc, a landowner in Berwickshire, Scotland, mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various documents in Scotland, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a John Kyrk was mentioned in 1359. During this period, the name was also associated with places like Kirkcudbrightshire and Kirkpatrick in Scotland.
Some notable individuals with the surname Kirk throughout history include:
1. Thomas Kirk (c. 1765-1797), a Scottish explorer and fur trader in North America.
2. John Kirk (1832-1922), a Scottish naturalist and companion of David Livingstone during his explorations in Africa.
3. Thomas Kirk (1828-1898), a Scottish-born botanist and explorer in New Zealand.
4. Norman Kirk (1923-1974), a New Zealand politician and Prime Minister from 1972 to 1974.
5. James Kirk (1779-1859), a Scottish-born merchant and landowner in Canada, known for establishing the town of Kirkmichael.
The surname Kirk has also been associated with various places, such as Kirkton, Kirkcaldy, and Kirkwall in Scotland, reflecting the name's origins and connections to churches and religious establishments.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kirk
Among Census respondents with the surname Kirk, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.4%. The next largest groups are Black (10.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Kirk 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 Kirk surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.4%
- Black or African American10.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races2.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kirk 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #623 | #623 | 0.0% |
| Count | 54,394 | 54,394 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 18.44 | 18.44 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kirk bearers went from 54,394 to 54,394 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #623 to #623.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kirk
FAQ
Kirk surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kirk?
The surname Kirk holds position #623 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 63,204 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 18.44 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kirk surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kirk, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.4%. The next largest groups are Black (10.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%). 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.