UK surname
An anglicized form of the Germanic name derived from the word "Kirche" meaning church.
In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Kerk surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #30,215 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Yardley, Hull Holy Trinity and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kerk is 216 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.3%.
1881 census count
24
Ranked #30,215
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
216 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kerk surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kerk 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 216 | #11,273 |
| 1881 | historical | 24 | #30,215 |
| 1891 | historical | 215 | #14,155 |
| 1901 | historical | 58 | #27,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 9 | #37,189 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Yardley, Hull Holy Trinity, St Leonard Shoreditch, Clee and Loughborough. 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 | Yardley | Warwickshire |
| 2 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Clee | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Loughborough | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kerk 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 Kerk, 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 Kerk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kerk 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, Kerk 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 Kerk is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kerk, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "KERK" is believed to have originated in the Netherlands and parts of northern Germany, with its earliest known uses dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Middle Dutch word "kerke," meaning "church," which itself is rooted in the Greek word "kuriakon," meaning "of the Lord."
In its earliest forms, the name was often spelled as "Kerck," "Kercke," or "Kerke," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and orthography. These variations persisted well into the 16th and 17th centuries, as evidenced by records from various Dutch and German municipalities.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name was Willebrord Kerk, a Dutch merchant who lived in the city of Leiden in the late 14th century. His name appears in several municipal records from that time, including property deeds and tax rolls.
Another notable early bearer of the name was Jan Kerk, a Dutch soldier who fought in the Eighty Years' War against Spanish rule in the late 16th century. He is mentioned in several chronicles of the conflict, notably in the writings of the Dutch historian Emanuel van Meteren.
In the 17th century, the name "KERK" began to appear more frequently in records from the Low Countries, as well as in areas of northern Germany where Dutch settlers had established communities. One such individual was Pieter Kerk, a Dutch painter and engraver who was born in Amsterdam in 1623 and is known for his landscapes and cityscapes.
As the name spread beyond its original geographic origins, it underwent further variations in spelling and pronunciation. In England, for example, the name was sometimes rendered as "Kirk" or "Kirke," reflecting the influence of the similar-sounding English word "church."
One notable English bearer of the name was Sir David Kirke (1597-1654), an English colonist and military leader who played a key role in the conquest of French Canada and the capture of Quebec City in the early 17th century.
Another prominent figure with this surname was the Dutch philosopher and theologian Jacobus Kerk (1634-1690), who was a leading figure in the Cartesian school of thought and wrote extensively on metaphysics and epistemology.
In more recent times, the name "KERK" has been borne by individuals from various backgrounds and professions, including the Dutch-American physicist Johannes Kerk (1880-1951), who made significant contributions to the study of atomic physics and quantum mechanics.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kerk 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. Middlesex leads with 8 Kerks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 8 | 3.42x |
| Essex | 4 | 8.66x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 9.51x |
| Denbighshire | 2 | 22.62x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 5.46x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.36x |
| Rutland | 1 | 58.14x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.27x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.88x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.43x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 5 Kerks recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.40x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End Old Town London | 5 | 100.40x |
| West Ham | 4 | 39.22x |
| West Retford | 3 | 4285.71x |
| Belper | 2 | 281.69x |
| Broughton | 2 | 571.43x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 10.62x |
| Birkdale | 1 | 142.86x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 29.59x |
| Oakham Lordshold | 1 | 555.56x |
| Richmond | 1 | 62.50x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 24.27x |
| Willenhall | 1 | 67.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kerk 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 Kerk 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 Kerk households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| Accountant | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Chambermaid | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Fish Merchant | 1 |
| General Contractor | 1 |
| General Law Clerk | 1 |
| Grocers Boy | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Latley Servant | 1 |
| Professor Of Sciences And Languages | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Kerk surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Kerk a modern rank of #38,419.
An anglicized form of the Germanic name derived from the word "Kirche" meaning church.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kerk 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.