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Bourke History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Bourke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
England

The surname is one of the Anglo-Norman names that came to Ireland in the 12th century. The surname Bourke is derived from the Old English word "burh," which is derived from the Old German word "burg," the common Germanic word for a fortification. It seems likely that the first family to bear this surname would have lived in or near a prehistoric fort situated on a hill. In the Norman fashion, surnames created from place names or geographic locations were prefixed by "de," which means "from" in French.

Early Origins of the Bourke family

The surname Bourke was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where the family name is descended from the Norman noble William Fitzadelm de Burgo who went to Ireland in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland and was the succeeded Strongbow as Chief Governor.

"Robert de Burgh, Earl of Moreton in Normandy, son of Harlowen de Burgh, by Arlotta, his wife, mother of William the Conqueror, participated with his half-brother in the triumph at Hastings, was created Earl of Cornwall, and received, as a further recompense, grants of seven hundred and ninety-three manors. His son, William Earl of Cornwall, who, rebelling against the Henry I., joined Robert of Normandy, and led the van at the battle of Tenchebray. He fell into the hands of his opponents and was sent prisoner to England, where he was treated with much cruelty, and detaining him in captivity for life. He left two sons: I. Adelm, from whom descended the Burghs, Earls of Ulster, the noble House of Clanricarde, and the various families of Burke, so widely scattered over the south west district of Ireland; and II. John, whose son, Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent, was Justiciary of England, temp. Henry III., and one of the greatest subjects in England." 1

Great stretches of land were given to this family in the year 1177. Richard Oge de Burc, son of William, became the "Lord Justice of Ireland" under King Henry II in 1177 and was regranted the lands of his father the following year. 2

Richard Mor de Burc, the older son of William, was the ancestor of the family name Bourke or Burke. They formed several septs, the two most important having been the MacWilliam Uachtar sept of county Galway, and the MacWilliam Lochtar sept of county Mayo.

It should be noted that not all of the family were in Ireland as some were found in Knaresborough, in the West Riding of Yorkshire in ancient times. "At the time of the Domesday Survey it formed part of the royal demesnes, and was given by the Conqueror to Serlo de Burgh, Baron of Tonsburg, in Normandy, who had accompanied that monarch into England, and by whom its stately castle, now a ruin, was originally built, on the rocky heights north of the river Nidd." 3

Another noted source confirms Knaresborough as a point of origin, but has a different Norman baron: " 'Burgh' must here stand for Serlo de Burgh, a powerful Northern baron in the time of the Conqueror, who built Knaresborough Castle, and appears to have taken his name from the manor of Burgh, in Yorkshire. " 4

Early History of the Bourke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bourke research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1227, 1503, 1544, 1572, 1582, 1590, 1598, 1601, 1604, 1629, 1635, 1642, 1647, 1657, 1666, 1667, 1672 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Bourke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bourke Spelling Variations

Since church officials and medieval scribes spelt each name as it sounded to them; as a result, a single person could accumulate many different versions of his name within official records. A close examination of the origins of the name Bourke revealed the following spelling variations: de Burgh, Burke, Bourke, Burk, Bourk, Gillick and many more.

Early Notables of the Bourke family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Theobald Bourke, 8th Mac William Iochtar and lord of Lower (North) Connacht, died 1503

Bourke World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bourke is the 12,679^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Bourke is ranked the 208^th most popular surname with an estimated 16,009 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Bourke is the 576^th popular surname with an estimated 1,232 people with that name. 7

Bourke migration to the United States +

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Bourke:

Bourke Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Bourke, who landed in Maryland in 1678 8

Bourke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Tho Bourke, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 8
Richard Bourke, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1764 8
John Bourke, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 8

Bourke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Bourke, who landed in New York in 1827 8
William Bourke, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1828 8
Michale Bourke, who arrived in New York in 1834 8
B Bourke, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 8
Patrick Bourke, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1871 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bourke migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bourke Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Bourke, who landed in Canada in 1812 in the Red River Settlement
Mrs. Mary Bourke, aged 40 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Potinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but she died on board 9
Mr. Michael Bourke, aged 16 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Potinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but he died on board 9
Mr. Patrick Bourke, aged 4 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Colonist" departing 13th July 1847 from New Ross, Ireland; the ship arrived on 29th August 1847 but he died on board 9
Mr. William Bourke, aged 55 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Triton" departing 14th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 24th July 1847 but he died on board 9

Bourke migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bourke Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Bourke, (Burke), (b. 1778), aged 40, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr.Nicholas Bourke, (b. 1779), aged 40, Irish black smith who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for perjury, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 11
Mr.Robert Bourke, (b. 1801), aged 18, Irish cotton spinner who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn", he died in 1829 when he was executed 11
Mr. Henry Bourke, English convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 6th April 1824, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. Thomas Bourke, (b. 1795), aged 31, Irish sawyer who was convicted in County Mayo, Ireland for life for house robbery, transported aboard the "Boyne" on 28th October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bourke migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bourke Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Bourke, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in New Zealand in 1851 14
Thomas Bourke, aged 26, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1872
Michael Bourke, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
Miss Ellen Bourke, (b. 1856), aged 17, Irish nurse from Limerick travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Surat" going to Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1873, the ship sunk at the Catlins River all the passengers were transported to Dunedin via various rescure vessels 14
William Bourke, aged 19, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bourke (post 1700) +

William G. Bourke, American politician, Representative from New York 5th District, 1892, 1894; Independence League Candidate for Presidential Elector for New York, 1908 15
Thomas A. Bourke, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Windsor, 1889 15
May R. Bourke, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1942 15
Martin Bourke, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1915, 1917-18, 1920 15
Joseph P. Bourke, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 2nd District, 1902-03 15
James S. Bourke (b. 1843), American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Bilbao, 1916 15
Rory Michael Bourke (b. 1942), American country music songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio, best known for his song "The Most Beautiful Girl", three-time ASCAP's "Writer of the Year" winner (1975, 1979, 1983) and three-time Grammy Award nominations
Richard Southwell Bourke (1822-1872), Earl of Mayo, Irish Viceroy and Governor-General of India, the eldest son of Robert Bourke, fifth Earl of Mayo 16
Margaret Bourke (1945-2021), Australian bridge player who represented Australia on 31 occasions, more than any other player
General Sir Richard Bourke (1777-1855), Irish-born, Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, Australia between 1831 and 1837 16
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bourke family +

RMS Lusitania

Mrs. Mabel Juliet Bourke, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 17

RMS Titanic

Mr. John Bourke (d. 1912), aged 42, Irish Third Class passenger from Carrowskehine, Mayo who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 18
Mrs. Catherine Bourke (d. 1912), (née McHugh), aged 32, Irish Third Class passenger from Carrowskehine, Mayo who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 18
Miss Mary Bourke (d. 1912), aged 40, Irish Third Class passenger from Carrowskehine, Mayo who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 18

The Bourke Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ung roy, ung foy, ung loy
Motto Translation: One king, one faith, one law.

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 65)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bencoolen
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 26th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyne
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 5 Feb. 2019
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html