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Show ContentsBurke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The surname is one of the Anglo-Norman names that came to Ireland in the 12th century. The surname Burke 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 Burke family

The surname Burke 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 Burke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burke 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 Burke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burke Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes and church officials spelled the names as they sounded, so a name was often spelled many different ways during the lifetime of a single person. The investigation of the origin of the name Burke revealed many spelling variations including de Burgh, Burke, Bourke, Burk, Bourk, Gillick and many more.

Early Notables of the Burke family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

  • Ulick Ceann Burke (died 1544), 12th Clanricarde and 1st Earl of Clanricarde
  • Richard Sassanach Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde (died 1582)
  • Ulick Burke, 3rd Earl of Clanricarde, (died 1601), Irish peer
  • Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde (1572-1635), an Irish nobleman
  • Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde (1604-1657), was an Irish nobleman and figure in English Civil War
  • The Most Reverend John de Burgh (de Burgo, Burke) (1590-1667), an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman, Vicar Apostolic and Bishop of Clonfert (1629 to 1647) and Archbishop of Tuam (1647 to 1667)
  • Oliver Burke (ca.1598-1672), Dominican priest and ecclesiastical administrator, Bishop of Kilmacduagh
  • Richard Burke (d. 1666), 6th Earl of Clanricarde, Irish peer

Burke World Ranking

In the United States, the name Burke is the 243rd most popular surname with an estimated 109,428 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Burke is ranked the 255th most popular surname with an estimated 16,133 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Burke is the 143rd popular surname with an estimated 265 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Burke as 195th with 16,574 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Burke as 312nd with 1,945 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Burke as 257th with 23,428 people. 10

United States Burke migration to the United States +

Ireland experienced a dramatic decrease in its population during the 19th century. This was in a great measure, a response to England's imperialistic policies. Hunger and disease took the lives of many Irish people and many more chose to leave their homeland to escape the horrific conditions. North America with its promise of work, freedom, and land was an extremely popular destination for Irish families. For those families that survived the journey, all three of these things were often attained through much hard work and perseverance. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Burke:

Burke Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • H Burke, who arrived in Virginia in 1647 11
  • Robert Burke, who landed in Maryland in 1649 11
  • Robert, Burke Jr., who arrived in Maryland in 1649 11
  • Stephen Burke, who landed in Maryland in 1649 11
  • Jane Burke, who landed in Maryland in 1666 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Burke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Kath Burke, who landed in Virginia in 1705 11
  • Tho Burke, who landed in Virginia in 1706 11
  • Richard Burke, who landed in Virginia in 1714 11
  • Levi Burke, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 11
Burke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joh Burke, aged 33, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802 11
  • Goody Burke, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 11
  • Martin Burke, who landed in America in 1810 11
  • Francis R Burke, aged 36, who arrived in Georgia in 1812 11
  • Edward Burke, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Burke Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • W E Burke, who landed in Mississippi in 1906 11

Canada Burke migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Burke Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Elener Burke, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1811
  • Thomas Burke, who landed in Canada in 1816
  • Mary Burke, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
  • Thomas Burke, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1823
  • Edward Burke, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1825
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Burke migration to Australia +

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

Burke Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Martin Burke, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Dennis Burke, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. Patrick Burke, (b. 1798), aged 21, English saddler who was convicted in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. Richard Burke, (b. 1794), aged 26, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. William Burke, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Burke 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:

Burke Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Burke, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • William M Otway Burke, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1840
  • R. Burke, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Belle Creole" in 1853
  • Theobald Burke, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
  • Charlotte Burke, aged 25, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Burke (post 1700) +

  • James E. Burke (1925-2012), American businessman, CEO of Johnson & Johnson from 1976 to 1989, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Wilner Edward Burke (1908-1985), American band director known for leading the Lumberjack Band, the team band for the Green Bay Packers for 42 years
  • John "Jack" Joseph Burke Jr. (1923-2024), American professional golfer
  • James Donahue Burke (1925-2023), American lunar settlement and exploration expert, the first manager of the Ranger program, one of the pioneers of America's space program
  • Miles Burke, American Olympic sliver medalist for boxing at the 1904 Summer Games
  • David W. Burke (1936-2014), American television news executive, first chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, President of CBS News (1988-1990)
  • Thomas Burke (1875-1929), American two time Olympic gold medalist for Athletics in the 1896 games
  • Mary "Billie" Burke (1884-1970), American actress primarily known as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the musical film The Wizard of Oz
  • Kenneth Duval Burke (1897-1993), American critic, philosopher and translator
  • Thomas Kerry Burke (b. 1942), Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1987 to 1990 17
  • ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Joseph H  Burke (1863-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18
Hillsborough disaster
  • Henry Thomas Burke (1942-1989), English roofing contractor who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 19
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Leslie Burke (1919-1941), Australian Leading Cook (O) from Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20
  • Mr. William Burke (1901-1941), Australian Chief Engine Room Artificer from Bondi Junction, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20
  • Mr. Kenneth Thomas Burke (1921-1941), Australian Telegraphist from Carnegie, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. William J Burke, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21
Monongah Mine
  • Mr. Henry Burke (b. 1862), Slavic coal miner who was in mine 6 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 22
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Ernest James Burke, American 3rd Class passenger from Central Falls, Rhode Island, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23
  • Mr. James Burke, English Trimmer from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 24
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. William Burke, aged 31, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 10 25
  • Mr. Richard Edward Burke (d. 1912), aged 30, English Lounge Steward from Chandler's Ford, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Jeremiah Burke (d. 1912), aged 19, Irish Third Class passenger from Glanmire, Cork who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25
SS Atlantic
  • Miss Anne Burke, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. Patrick Burke (1886-1914), Newfoundlander from Colliers who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Frank Edmond Burke Jr., American Storekeeper Second Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 26

The Burke 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.

Suggested Readings for the name Burke +

  • Burk(e) Family of Southwest Virginia and the Valley by John A. Kelly.
  • A Family Tree by James Robert Harrington.
  1. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. 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
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. 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)
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
  17. Thomas Burke. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Thomas Burke. Retrieved from http://www.alafairburke.com/
  18. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  19. Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
  20. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  21. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  22. Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
  23. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  24. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  25. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  26. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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