NameCensus.

UK surname

Berk

A Turkish surname derived from the word "berk," meaning "strong, firm, or brave."

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Berk surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Paddington and Blakeney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Albans, Haringey and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berk is 307 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 145.5%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

1861

307 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Berk had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 307 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Berk surname distribution map

The map shows where the Berk surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Berk surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Berk over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 90 #18,317
1861 historical 307 #8,262
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 46 #29,047
1911 historical 38 #29,147
1997 modern 52 #32,444
1998 modern 62 #31,735
1999 modern 52 #32,848
2000 modern 55 #32,609
2001 modern 58 #32,180
2002 modern 57 #32,661
2003 modern 62 #32,258
2004 modern 66 #32,079
2005 modern 67 #32,196
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Berks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Paddington, Blakeney, Manchester and Penrith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Albans, Haringey, Islington and Worthing. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 Blakeney Norfolk
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Penrith Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Albans 004 St Albans
2 Haringey 030 Haringey
3 Haringey 012 Haringey
4 Islington 001 Islington
5 Worthing 008 Worthing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Berk

These lists show first names that appear often with the Berk surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Berk

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berk, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Berk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Berk household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Berk is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Berk is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Berk falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Berk is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Berk, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Berk

The surname BERK is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages, likely derived from the Old English word "beorc," meaning a birch tree. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent birch tree or a settlement surrounded by birch trees.

The earliest known record of the name BERK dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as a place name in several counties, including Berkshire and Gloucestershire. This indicates that the surname may have been adopted by individuals living in or near those locations.

In the 13th century, various spellings of the name emerged, such as Berke, Berk, and Birke, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname BERK was John Berk, a landowner in Berkshire mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1199. Another notable figure was William Berk, a prominent merchant from Bristol who was granted a royal charter by King Edward III in the 14th century.

During the 16th century, the BERK surname gained prominence with the rise of the Berk family of Gloucestershire. Sir John Berk (1516-1589) was a renowned military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I, while his son, Thomas Berk (1545-1621), was a Member of Parliament and a respected scholar.

In the 17th century, the name BERK spread across England, with several notable individuals emerging. John Berk (1625-1688) was a influential Puritan minister and author, while Robert Berk (1650-1718) was a successful merchant and philanthropist in London.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the BERK surname continued to be associated with various professions and achievements. Notable individuals included Sir James Berk (1745-1823), a prominent architect who designed several iconic buildings in London, and Mary Berk (1788-1865), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Berk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berk surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 19 Berks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.64x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 19 4.64x
Ayrshire 5 16.31x
Kent 4 2.86x
Lancashire 3 0.62x
Essex 2 2.47x
Monmouthshire 2 6.75x
Cheshire 1 1.11x
Derbyshire 1 1.56x
Gloucestershire 1 1.24x
Hampshire 1 1.19x
Surrey 1 0.50x
Worcestershire 1 1.87x
Yorkshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 6 Berks recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.80x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 6 33.80x
Newton On Ayr 5 543.48x
Hackney London 4 17.42x
Islington London 4 10.08x
Newington In Milton 3 2000.00x
Epping 2 606.06x
St George In East London 2 51.95x
St Marylebone London 2 9.14x
St Woollos 2 60.61x
Bristol St Paul In 1 46.73x
Cottingham 1 114.94x
Derby St Peter 1 49.02x
Hoole 1 294.12x
Portsea 1 6.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 12.14x
St Pancras London 1 3.03x
Stourbridge 1 72.46x
Tonge 1 98.04x
Toxteth Park 1 6.08x
Witton 1 163.93x
Woolwich 1 19.38x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Berk surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Caroline 2
Ada 1
Agness 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Jessy 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Mary 1
Rose 1
S.J.D. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Berk surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Berk households.

FAQ

Berk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Berk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Berk surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Berk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Berk a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Berk surname mean?

A Turkish surname derived from the word "berk," meaning "strong, firm, or brave."

What does the Berk map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Berk bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.