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

Kirker, 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 Kirker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kirker in America

Kirker is the 20232nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kirker surname appeared 1,316 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 Kirker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kirker 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 Kirker

The surname Kirker has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic phrase "Cir a' Chathair," which translates to "church of the fort" or "fort of the church." This suggests that the name may have been associated with a particular settlement or location where an early church or fortified structure existed.

The name is closely linked to the Clan Kerr, a prominent Scottish clan with a long and illustrious history. Some historians theorize that the name Kirker could have emerged as a variant of the more common Kerr surname within this clan. The earliest known record of the Kirker surname appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kirker name is found in the person of John Kirker, who was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, around 1580. He was a prominent landowner and played a significant role in the local community during the tumultuous times of the Reformation.

Another notable figure with the Kirker surname was Sir Walter Kirker, who lived in the late 17th century. He was a Scottish soldier and military commander who fought bravely in the Jacobite Risings, defending the cause of the exiled House of Stuart against the ruling House of Hanover.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Kirker (1732-1812), a Scottish minister and philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of theology and ethics. His writings and sermons were widely read and influential during his lifetime.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Kirker (1844-1912), a Scottish-born businessman and industrialist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was also a noted philanthropist and contributed significantly to the development of his local community in Glasgow.

Another prominent figure with the Kirker surname was Margaret Kirker (1886-1974), a Scottish-born actress who gained fame for her performances on the stage and in early cinema. She was celebrated for her roles in several Shakespearean productions and was considered a pioneering figure in the world of theater.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the Kirker surname and made significant contributions to various fields, from military service and business to the arts and academia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kirker

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

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

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

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