2000
#148,244
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Schurk
A surname derived from the German word "schurke" meaning villain or scoundrel.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Schurk. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Schurk surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Schurk in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Schurk, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Schurk
The surname SCHURK has its origins in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "schurk," which referred to a mischievous or naughty person. This term was initially used to describe someone with a playful or roguish nature, but over time, it took on a more negative connotation.
The name SCHURK first appeared in historical records in the late 13th century, with mentions of individuals bearing this surname in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. One of the earliest known references is found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history book published in 1493, which mentions a certain "Hans Schurk" from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
In the 15th century, the SCHURK name gained prominence in the city of Augsburg, where several members of the family held influential positions within the city's guild system. Notable individuals from this period include Johann Schurk (1430-1501), a respected merchant and member of the weavers' guild, and his son, Christoph Schurk (1460-1521), who served as a city councilor and played a significant role in the Augsburg Reformation.
During the 16th century, the SCHURK surname spread across various regions of Germany, with records indicating families bearing this name in cities such as Cologne, Frankfurt, and Leipzig. One notable figure from this era was Friedrich Schurk (1532-1599), a Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Tübingen, who published several influential works on theology and biblical exegesis.
In the 17th century, the SCHURK name gained recognition in the literary world with the birth of Johann Christian Schurk (1640-1712), a German poet and dramatist known for his satirical works and comedic plays. His most famous work, "Der Betrogene Betrieger" (The Deceived Deceiver), was widely popular and performed across German-speaking regions.
As the centuries progressed, the SCHURK surname continued to be associated with various professions and disciplines, from academics and artists to politicians and entrepreneurs. Notable individuals from more recent times include Karl Schurk (1801-1878), a German painter and illustrator renowned for his depictions of historical events and landscapes, and Hans Schurk (1892-1966), a German politician and member of the Reichstag during the Weimar Republic.
Throughout its history, the surname SCHURK has maintained a strong presence in Germany, while also spreading to other parts of Europe and beyond through migration and diaspora. Despite its varied connotations over time, the name continues to hold a unique place in the tapestry of German surnames, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diverse narratives that have shaped its evolution.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Schurk
Among Census respondents with the surname Schurk, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Schurk bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Schurk surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.7% · 107
- Two or more races4.4% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Schurk
Schurk appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
+7 bearers (+6.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,208 places
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
+4 bearers (+3.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,231 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #148,244 | 102 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.9%) | Down 2,208 places |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.7%) | Up 3,231 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Schurk surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #150,452 | #147,221 | 2.1% |
| Count | 109 | 113 | 3.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -5.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Schurk bearers went from 109 to 113 (+3.7% change). The surname moved up 3,231 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #147,221.
FAQ
Schurk surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Schurk?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Schurk. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Schurk?
Schurk ranks #147,221 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 113 people with the surname Schurk. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Schurk.
Has Schurk become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Schurk went from 109 recorded bearers to 113. That is an increase of 4 (+3.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #150,452 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Schurk?
Among Census respondents with the surname Schurk, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Schurk in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.7% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Schurk appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.7%), Two or More Races (4.4%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Schurk (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Schurk mean?
A surname derived from the German word "schurke" meaning villain or scoundrel. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Schurk (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Schurk?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.