NameCensus.

UK surname

Berko

A surname of Slavic origin meaning "from the birch trees".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, Haringey and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berko is 128 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

2014

128 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Berko surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Berko surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Berko 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
1997 modern 63 #31,335
1998 modern 75 #30,471
1999 modern 68 #31,311
2000 modern 62 #31,939
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 74 #31,048
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 80 #30,679
2005 modern 87 #29,966
2006 modern 90 #29,893
2007 modern 94 #29,650
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

Back to top

Where Berkos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, Haringey, Barnet and Lambeth. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey
2 Haringey 028 Haringey
3 Haringey 012 Haringey
4 Barnet 013 Barnet
5 Lambeth 008 Lambeth

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Berko

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Berko

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berko, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Berko surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Berko 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Berko 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

Berko 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

Berko falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Berko 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Berko

The surname "BERKO" is believed to have originated in the central European region of Hungary during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is likely derived from the Hungarian word "berkó," which referred to a dense thicket or a small grove of trees. This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive surname given to someone who lived near or worked in such a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BERKO" can be found in a Hungarian census record from the city of Eger, dated around 1450. This document lists a certain "Janos Berko" as a resident of the city, indicating the presence of the name in that region during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, there are references to a family of nobles known as the "Berkó" clan, who held lands and estates in the western Hungarian region of Vas County. This family is mentioned in several historical documents from that time period, suggesting that the name had gained some prominence and recognition by then.

An interesting historical figure bearing the surname "BERKO" was Miklos Berko, a Hungarian military officer who fought in the Ottoman-Hungarian Wars of the late 17th century. Born in 1650, he is noted for his bravery and leadership in several battles against the Ottoman forces invading Hungary.

Another notable individual was Janos Berko, a Hungarian poet and writer who lived in the 18th century. Born in 1720, he is best known for his collection of lyrical poems and ballads that celebrated the natural beauty of the Hungarian countryside and its rural way of life.

In the 19th century, there is a record of a prominent businessman named Istvan Berko, who was involved in the wine trade and owned several vineyards in the Tokaj region of northeastern Hungary. He is mentioned in various business documents and records from that time period, indicating the continued presence of the surname in the country.

While the surname "BERKO" is primarily associated with Hungary, there are also instances of it being found in other Central European countries, such as Slovakia and Austria, likely due to migration and intermingling of populations over the centuries. However, the name's origins can be traced back to its Hungarian roots and its connection to the natural landscape of that region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Berko surname: questions and answers

How common is the Berko surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Berko a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Berko surname mean?

A surname of Slavic origin meaning "from the birch trees".

What does the Berko map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Berko 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.