UK surname
A variant surname derived from the Old Norse word "berkr" meaning "birch tree".
In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Berker surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #31,914 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kingsley, Moulton and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berker is 241 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.3%.
1881 census count
12
Ranked #31,914
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
241 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Berker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Berker surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 241 | #10,192 |
| 1881 | historical | 12 | #31,914 |
| 1891 | historical | 134 | #19,777 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 19 | #31,416 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kingsley, Moulton, St Dunstan Stepney, Eccles and Renhold. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingsley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Moulton | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 5 | Renhold | Bedfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Berker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Berker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Berker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Berker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Berker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Berker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Berker has its roots in Germany and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the German word "Berge," which means "mountain" or "hill." The name may have been given to someone who lived near or on a hill or mountain, or perhaps worked in a profession related to mining or quarrying in mountainous regions.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval German records and documents. One notable mention is in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of Saxon charters from the 12th and 13th centuries, where a certain "Heinrich Berker" is listed as a landowner in the region of Thuringia in the year 1187.
Another significant historical reference to the name Berker can be found in the Lübecker Oberstadtbuch, a legal record from the city of Lübeck in northern Germany, where a "Johan Berker" is mentioned as a merchant in the year 1301. This suggests that the name was not only present in rural areas but also in urban centers during that time period.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Berker was Hans Berker, a German scholar and theologian who lived from 1470 to 1542. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of Martin Luther.
In the 16th century, the name Berker also appeared in the Württembergisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of historical documents from the former state of Württemberg in southwestern Germany. A certain "Georg Berker" is listed as a landowner in the town of Waiblingen in the year 1583.
Another notable individual with the surname Berker was Johann Berker, a German composer and organist who lived from 1628 to 1688. He was a prominent figure in the baroque music scene and served as the organist at the Marienkirche in Lübeck for several decades.
As the name Berker spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. Some alternative spellings found in historical records include Bercker, Berkher, and Bergker, reflecting the influence of local dialects and scribal variations.
While the name Berker has its origins in Germany, it has since been carried to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the historical accounts and records mentioned above provide a glimpse into the early origins and development of this surname in its homeland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 6 Berkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 6 | 10.54x |
| Angus | 1 | 9.23x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 5.47x |
| Durham | 1 | 2.88x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.51x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.86x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 2.53x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 5 Berkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.07x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 5 | 49.07x |
| Brechin | 1 | 232.56x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 13.40x |
| Chapel En Le Frith | 1 | 588.24x |
| Crook Billy Row | 1 | 222.22x |
| Islington London | 1 | 8.83x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 166.67x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 33.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Berker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Berker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Berker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Carman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farmers Widow | 1 |
| Fireman | 1 |
| Foreign Agent | 1 |
| Ironmongers Asst | 1 |
| Machinist (Und) | 1 |
| Serv (Dom) | 1 |
| Shop Assistant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Berker surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Berker a modern rank of #36,998.
A variant surname derived from the Old Norse word "berkr" meaning "birch tree".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Berker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.