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

Virk, 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 Virk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Virk in America

Virk is the 21790th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Virk surname appeared 1,193 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 Virk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Virk 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 Virk

The surname "VIRK" originated in the region of Punjab, which is now divided between India and Pakistan. The name is believed to have its roots in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, with the word "Vrik" meaning "wolf." This suggests that the name may have been initially borne by those who were known for their courage, strength, and ferocity, much like the wolf.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "VIRK" date back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. It is thought that members of the Virk clan were among the elite warriors and chieftains who served under the Mughal rulers, and their bravery and loyalty earned them recognition and respect.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname "VIRK" was Bhai Mani Singh (1644-1734), a revered Sikh scholar and warrior. He played a crucial role in the compilation of the Adi Granth, the sacred scripture of the Sikh faith, and is remembered for his unwavering devotion to the Sikh teachings and his heroic defense of the Sikh community during times of persecution.

Another prominent individual with the "VIRK" surname was Sardar Jassa Singh Virk (1718-1783), a powerful chieftain and military commander who established the Virk Misl, one of the confederacies that ruled over parts of Punjab during the 18th century. His military exploits and strategic alliances helped shape the political landscape of the region during that era.

In the 19th century, Sardar Harbans Singh Virk (1829-1894) was a renowned Sikh leader and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of the princely state of Patiala. He played a pivotal role in modernizing the administration and promoting education in the region.

Another notable figure was Sir Sunder Singh Virk (1858-1936), a distinguished civil servant and administrator who served as the Prime Minister of the princely state of Kapurthala. He was instrumental in introducing various reforms and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people under his leadership.

The "VIRK" surname has also been associated with various place names in the Punjab region, such as Virka Kalan and Virka Khurd, which further reinforces the historical significance and geographic roots of this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Virk

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

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

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

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