UK surname
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Ruarc meaning "red-haired" or "red-king".
In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Rourk surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #20,467 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Carlisle St Cuthbert and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rourk is 125 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.7%.
1881 census count
94
Ranked #20,467
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1851
125 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rourk surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rourk surname density by area, 1861 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 | 125 | #14,700 |
| 1861 | historical | 118 | #18,512 |
| 1881 | historical | 94 | #20,467 |
| 1891 | historical | 77 | #27,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 64 | #27,010 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes, St Pancras and Wigan. 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 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 2 | Carlisle St Cuthbert | Cumberland |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rourk 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 Rourk, 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 Rourk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rourk 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, Rourk 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 Rourk is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rourk, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rourk is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Ruairc", which means "descendant of Ruarc". The name Ruarc is believed to have derived from the Irish word "ruadh", meaning red or reddish-brown, referring to the hair color of the original bearer.
The name can be traced back to the 11th century in Ireland, where the O'Rourkes were a powerful family and one of the principal septs of Connacht. They ruled over the territory of West Breifne, which covered parts of modern-day counties Leitrim and Cavan. The O'Rourkes were involved in many battles and conflicts with neighboring clans, such as the O'Connors and the O'Reillys.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1171, the Annals mention the death of Tighernan O'Rourke, the King of Breifne. The name also appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, another important source of Irish history, which documents the exploits of various O'Rourke chieftains throughout the centuries.
Over time, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Rorke, Rourke, Rourque, and Roarke. In some instances, the prefix "O'" was dropped, leading to the modern spelling of "Rourk".
Notable individuals with the surname Rourk include:
1. Loughlin O'Rourke (fl. 1367), an Irish chieftain and Lord of West Breifne. 2. Tiernan O'Rourke (fl. 1481), an Irish chieftain and Lord of West Breifne, known for his resistance against English rule in Ireland. 3. Brian O'Rourke (c. 1495 - c. 1562), an Irish chieftain and Lord of West Breifne, who fought against the Tudor conquest of Ireland. 4. John Rourke (1776 - 1834), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. 5. John Rourke (1892 - 1967), an Irish-American actor and film director, known for his work in Hollywood during the silent film era.
The name Rourk has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Rourke's Castle in County Leitrim, which was once the stronghold of the O'Rourke clan.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rourk 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 18 Rourks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.65x |
| Lanarkshire | 13 | 4.38x |
| Ayrshire | 11 | 16.03x |
| Angus | 10 | 11.77x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.10x |
| East Lothian | 7 | 57.66x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 3.03x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.44x |
| Midlothian | 4 | 3.26x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.93x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.06x |
| Morayshire | 2 | 14.04x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 2.70x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 1 | 7.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liff Benvie in Angus leads with 9 Rourks recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liff Benvie | 9 | 69.82x |
| Bothwell | 8 | 99.50x |
| Athelstaneford | 7 | 2916.67x |
| Birmingham | 7 | 9.09x |
| Largs | 7 | 432.10x |
| Manningham | 6 | 53.62x |
| Wigan | 6 | 39.47x |
| Dalmellington | 4 | 198.02x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 4 | 8.10x |
| Elswick | 4 | 36.73x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 6.05x |
| Old Monkland | 4 | 33.98x |
| Shadwell London | 3 | 116.73x |
| Sutton In Keighley | 3 | 588.24x |
| Bury | 2 | 16.09x |
| Forres | 2 | 133.33x |
| Holdenhurst | 2 | 40.57x |
| Manchester | 2 | 4.09x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 4.21x |
| Baildon | 1 | 58.48x |
| Dundee | 1 | 3.15x |
| Dwygyfylchi | 1 | 144.93x |
| Huyton With Roby | 1 | 78.74x |
| Lesmahagow | 1 | 31.85x |
| Norwood | 1 | 47.62x |
| Oldham | 1 | 2.85x |
| Troqueer | 1 | 57.47x |
| West Derby | 1 | 3.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rourk 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 Rourk 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 Rourk households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Bricklayer Labourer | 2 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| General Lab | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 2 |
| Winder (Worsted) | 2 |
| Wire Drawer | 2 |
| (General) Labourer | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Cotton Frame Tenter | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer And ... Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Laundress Washerwoman | 1 |
| N K | 1 |
| No Occ Farmer | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| School | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Silk Spinner | 1 |
| Weaver (C) | 1 |
| Winder (F H T) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Rourk surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Rourk a modern rank of #38,264.
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Ruarc meaning "red-haired" or "red-king".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rourk 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.