UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the word "burker", referring to a lime burner or one who burns lime.
In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Burker surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #30,738 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burker is 457 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 65.0%.
1881 census count
20
Ranked #30,738
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
457 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Burker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Burker surname density by area, 1911 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 | 166 | #11,986 |
| 1861 | historical | 457 | #5,681 |
| 1881 | historical | 20 | #30,738 |
| 1891 | historical | 299 | #11,140 |
| 1901 | historical | 142 | #18,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 108 | #21,736 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 9 | #37,189 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Burker 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 Burker, 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 Burker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Burker 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, Burker 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 Burker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Burker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Burker is believed to have originated from an occupational name in Scotland, referring to a burgher or freeman of a borough or town. It is derived from the Middle English word "burgeis" and the Old French word "burgeis," meaning a resident of a fortified town or borough.
The name can be traced back to the 12th century in Scotland, where it was commonly found in areas such as Edinburgh, Stirling, and Aberdeen. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after his conquest of Scotland.
In the 14th century, the surname Burker appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland and the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. These records often referred to individuals with the name as "burgesses" or "burgeis," reflecting their status as freemen of a town or borough.
One notable figure with the surname Burker was John Burker, a merchant and burgess of Edinburgh in the late 15th century. He played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce during that period.
Another early bearer of the name was William Burker, born in 1567 in Stirling. He was a prominent member of the local community and served as a town councilor.
In the 17th century, the surname Burker was associated with the place name Burkers Burgh, a small settlement located near Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland. This connection suggests that some individuals may have taken their surname from the place name or vice versa.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Burker was Sir Alexander Burker (1635-1705), a Scottish soldier and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for Stirlingshire and was knighted for his military service during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Burker (1710-1782), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Canongate Kirk and the Merchant Maiden Hospital.
In the 19th century, the surname Burker was found among Scottish emigrants who settled in various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand. One such individual was James Burker (1825-1901), a Scottish-born businessman who became a prominent figure in the early development of the city of Melbourne, Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burker 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. Lancashire leads with 5 Burkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 5 | 2.16x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 9.63x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.54x |
| Surrey | 3 | 3.16x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 6.84x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 3.28x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 19.08x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 2.95x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.50x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 3.83x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 4 Burkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Salford | 4 | 58.82x |
| Great Grimsby | 3 | 151.52x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 16.06x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 18.47x |
| Bromley | 1 | 99.01x |
| Cookham | 1 | 217.39x |
| Crumpsall | 1 | 185.19x |
| Dymeirchion | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 9.52x |
| Litchurch | 1 | 81.30x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | 30.67x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 54.64x |
| Tooting Graveney | 1 | 384.62x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Burker 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 Burker 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 Burker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Author Journalist Song Writer & Composer | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Clerk Student of Theology | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Grinder (Cutter) | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Iron Turner | 1 |
| Ironstone Miner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Burker surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Burker a modern rank of #37,967.
An occupational surname derived from the word "burker", referring to a lime burner or one who burns lime.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burker 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.