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

Spirk, 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 Spirk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spirk in America

Spirk is the 60790th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spirk surname appeared 331 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 Spirk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spirk 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 Spirk

The surname SPIRK is of German origin, with roots tracing back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the southwestern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around present-day Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.

One of the earliest known references to the name SPIRK can be found in historical documents from the town of Esslingen am Neckar, dating back to the late 1400s. These records suggest that the name may have derived from an occupational title or a nickname, potentially related to the German word "Sperling," which means "sparrow."

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the SPIRK surname appeared in various church records and municipal registers across southern Germany. Notable bearers of the name during this period include Hans Spirk (1532-1597), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Augsburg, and Katharina Spirk (1574-1628), a renowned midwife who practiced in the town of Ulm.

As the SPIRK family migrated and spread across different regions of Germany, variations in the spelling of the name emerged. Some of these variations include Sperck, Spürkh, and Spirckh, reflecting the linguistic diversity and regional dialects of the time.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals bearing the SPIRK surname achieved notable recognition. One such individual was Johann Michael Spirk (1768-1842), a celebrated artist and engraver from the city of Nuremberg, whose intricate copperplate engravings adorned various publications and manuscripts of the era.

Another notable figure was Karl Spirk (1812-1879), a German-born civil engineer who emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century. Spirk's contributions to the construction of railroads and bridges in the American West earned him a reputation as a skilled and innovative engineer.

Other individuals with the SPIRK surname who left their mark on history include Elise Spirk (1842-1918), a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in Germany, and Hans Spirk (1897-1972), a decorated World War I veteran and recipient of the Iron Cross for his bravery in combat.

While the SPIRK surname may not be as widespread as some other German names, it has persisted through the centuries, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance that reflects the diverse experiences and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spirk

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!