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Very Rare Last name

Lurks

An English surname derived from the verb "lurk", possibly referring to someone who lived in a secluded or hidden place.

According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Lurks. That puts it at #127,494 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).

This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lurks 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

171

1 in 2,004,411

Census rank

#127,494

2010 decennial data

Per 100,000

0.1

Frequency rate

Recorded bearers

134

very rare in the US

Popularity narrative

The Census Bureau recorded 134 bearers of the surname Lurks in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 127494th position in the national surname ranking.

Among Census respondents with the surname Lurks, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and Hispanic (3.7%).

Origin

Meaning and origin of Lurks

The surname LURKS has its origins in the Germanic regions of central Europe, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "lurken," which referred to the act of lurking or lying in wait, possibly suggesting an ancestral occupation or characteristic associated with the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LURKS surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region now known as Bavaria, dating back to the 11th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Lurkis" and "Lurkes," reflecting the linguistic variations of the time.

During the 13th century, the LURKS name was documented in the Reichsmatrikel, an imperial registry of noble families in the Holy Roman Empire. This suggests that by this period, the LURKS had established themselves as a prominent lineage within the Germanic nobility.

Historically, the LURKS name has been associated with several notable individuals. In the 15th century, Johannes Lurks, a renowned scholar and theologian from Nuremberg, made significant contributions to the field of religious studies. His treatises on the interpretation of biblical texts were widely circulated across Europe.

Another notable figure bearing the LURKS surname was Wilhelm Lurks, a 16th-century military commander who served under the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His exploits in the Italian Wars against the French and his role in the Siege of Vienna in 1529 earned him considerable recognition.

In the realm of literature, the LURKS name is closely tied to the 17th-century poet and playwright, Anna Maria Lurks. Born in Frankfurt in 1610, her poetic works were highly acclaimed during the German Renaissance and inspired a generation of writers.

The 18th century saw the rise of Johann Friedrich Lurks, a prominent architect and urban planner from Mainz. His designs for public buildings and urban spaces greatly influenced the architectural landscape of several German cities during the Enlightenment era.

Lastly, in the 19th century, the LURKS name gained international recognition through the contributions of Carl Friedrich Lurks, a renowned explorer and cartographer. His expeditions to remote regions of Africa and Asia resulted in the mapping of previously uncharted territories, expanding the geographical knowledge of the time.

While the LURKS surname has its roots in the Germanic regions, it has since spread across various parts of Europe and beyond, with descendants of these historical figures continuing to carry the name to this day.

Demographics

Ancestry and ethnicity for Lurks

Among Census respondents with the surname Lurks, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and Hispanic (3.7%).

The bar chart below shows how Lurks 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 Lurks surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.

  • Black or African American90.3%
  • Two or more races6.0%
  • Hispanic or Latino3.7%

Year on year

2000 vs 2010 Census

How has the Lurks surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.

Census year comparison

20002010
Bearer countPer 100,000 residents20002010200020101001340.00.1
Metric 2000 2010 Change
Rank #150,436 #127,494 15.3%
Count 100 134 34.0%
Per 100K 0.04 0.05 25.0%

Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lurks bearers went from 100 to 134 (+34.0% change). The surname moved up 22,942 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,436 to #127,494.

FAQ

Lurks surname: questions and answers

How common is the last name Lurks?

The surname Lurks holds position #127,494 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.

What is the ethnic background of the Lurks surname?

Among Census respondents with the surname Lurks, the largest self-reported group is Black at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and Hispanic (3.7%). 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.

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Lurks

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