The surname burke was first found in county galway irish. In the reign of king john the burkes obtained large. Burkes family records, contained in this database, record the genealogy of the junior houses of british nobility. Burke is from an english surname which was derived from old english burh, meaning fortress. Burke if you bear one of these names you could be a musician or politician. The surname burke is derived from the old english word burh, which is derived from the old german word burg, the common germanic word for a fortification.
Burke, the name of a family, associated with connaught for more than seven centuries. The 1890 births register show most burke entries in galway, cork, dublin, mayo, tipperary and waterford. Meaning of burke last name surname family name burke. Arranged alphabetically by surname, both editions give. The villages name is of old english origin and simply means fortified town. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages. The old english word burh means fortified manor, fortification, castle, city, or hill, which in term derives from the old german word burg, meaning fortification. Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your burke family tree. Meaning, origin and history of the name burke behind the.
The records were created by the burke family and others to build an unparalleled collection of books of genealogical and heraldic interest. Burke gibbens elkins hanon lawson was father of louis burke. The burke family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. An article on the burke clan history reveals the following. The earliest known irish surname is oclery o cleirigh. The history of bourke surname index national library of. The book a topographical dictionary of england by samuel lewis states the following regarding this surname. The select surnames website select burke surname genealogy source. The meaning, origin and history of the surname burke.
The surname is one of the anglonorman names that came to ireland in the 12th century. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the berke surname lived. The cadets or younger sons of a noble family did not usually receive inherited lands or titles. Searching for surnames by j titford countryside books, 2002. Burke is the 4,598 th most popular name of all time. Uncover the burk surname history for the irish origin. The two main spellings are burke and bourke pronounced burke. Or a cross gules, in the dexter canton a lion rampant sable.
The most burke families were found in the usa in 1880. Burkes peerage was established in london in 1826 by john burke and has become the definitive guide to the genealogy and heraldry of the peerage, baronetage, knightage and landed gentry of the united. Burkes peerage has for over 185 years recorded the genealogy of historical families. This ancient and aristocratic english and normanirish surname was first held by burhred, the king of west mercia, england, 852 874, and several centuries later by the original earls. This book traces the ancestry, origins, and history of the families of. This is named with old english burh fortification, fortified manor. A catamountain sejant guardant proper collared and chained or.
The common names for these two publications have, over the years, become burkes peerage and burkes landed gentry. Arranged alphabetically by surname, both editions give narrative pedigrees of. Burke family crest, burke coat of arms, burke surname, clan. Burke galway burke tribe galway burke family galway. Burkes peerage and baronetage project gutenberg self. The surname is recorded in the spellings of burgh, burk, burke, and bourke, and is particularly popular in ireland, where it has long held great state.
Surnames can reveal much about your family history, but they can also be a. Within census records, you can often find information like name. The fifth edition is called burkes irish family records london, england. A close examination of the origins of the name burgh revealed the following spelling variations. After the death of john burke, in 1848, his work was continued by his son john. In the 1990s, burkes peerage partnership licensed the name to halberts family heritage, an american publisher that sold genealogical books under the name burkes peerage world book of surnames. The surname burk was first found in county galway irish. The name is topographical, and originates from residence. They are without comparison as a genealogical reference and a vast treasure trove of information.
Meaning, origin and history of the surname burke behind. Burke earl of ulster mac william iochtar clanricarde burke civil war 3338 the book of the burkes 1580s. The history of the energetic burke family is complex and widespread. Browse for all the origins, histories, and meanings of. English surname from an old english root meaning fort. In his book a genealogical history of irish families, john rooney, states the following in regard to this family. The select surnames website the new england historical and. The burke family a history by sir william burke teeling, july, 1932 in the old days when the earls of clanricarde were rich and important, the genealogical writers were apt to exaggerate the family. William burke 1743 keeloges, tuam, galway, ireland.
Burkebourkede burgode burgh ireland pedigrees lead page. As a last name burke was the 246 th most popular name in 2010. What does burke mean burke means dweller at or near the burgh or stronghold of the castle. Burke outnumbers bourke by about four to one in ireland. In 1939, in the 16th edition of the landed gentry of great britain, burkes undertook to treat distinguished american families in the manner of the peerage and the landed gentry, systematically establishing.
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