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

Larke, 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 Larke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Larke in America

Larke is the 42163rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Larke surname appeared 515 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 Larke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Larke 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 Larke

The surname Larke has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "lauerc," which means "lark," referring to the small songbird. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was perceived as cheerful or lively, akin to the bird's melodious singing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Larke can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire, dating back to 1195, where a certain Walter Larke is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I.

During the medieval period, the surname was often spelled in various ways, such as Lark, Larke, and Larkes, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling conventions at the time. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include John Larke, a prominent member of the English Parliament in the 15th century, and Thomas Larke, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Larke family established their presence in the village of Crondall, Hampshire, where they were known as landed gentry. One notable figure from this lineage was Sir Michael Larke (1619-1688), a baronet and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the English Civil War.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Larke was Robert Larke (1603-1665), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, from 1647 until his death. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time and made valuable contributions to the field of theology.

The surname Larke has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Larke's Hill in Derbyshire and Larke's Farm in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Larke who owned or resided in those locations.

While the surname Larke may not be as common today as it once was, it continues to hold a rich historical legacy, with its roots firmly embedded in the English countryside and its association with the lively and melodious lark.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Larke

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

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

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

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