Surname Birck - Meaning and Origin
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Birck: What does the surname Birck mean?
The last name Birck is of German origin and is an occupational name for a maker of bricks or tiles. The name itself is derived from the Middle High German word bercke, meaning “tile, brick”, and the Middle Low German word berke, meaning “tiled roof”. The first recorded example of this surname appears in 1340, when a certain Johannes der Bercker was recorded in the old records of the city of Köln (Cologne).
By the 19th century, the name had begun to spread to the USA, where it is now most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and New York. It is likely that many of these American branches of the family either descended from 19th century German immigrants, or are descended from British immigrants from a similar background.
The surname Birck is still relatively uncommon, but stands out among the many names that are common in its area of origin. Many people in areas where it is found still associate the name with making bricks and tiles, though modern bearers of the name come from a variety of backgrounds.
Order DNA origin analysisBirck: Where does the name Birck come from?
The surname Birck is most common in Germany, where it is ranked in the top 1,000 surnames, but is also well-established in American culture, particularly in the Midwest and Texas.
The Birck surname is derived from the German birc, or birke, which refers to a birch tree. As such, Birck as a surname likely refereed to those whose ancestors lived near or around a birch tree. This surname is also found in other Germanic countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, and is sometimes spelled as “Berck” or “Berckman.”
Today, the Birck surname is prominent in Germany, where it is the 829th most popular last name. The surname is also well-distributed throughout the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, Birck is the 2,311th most popular surname in the United States, making it quite common.
The highest concentrations of the Birck surname are found in Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, though the surname is found in nearly every state. Interestingly enough, the highest concentrations of the Birck surname in the United States are found in Texas, Wisconsin, and Iowa, suggesting that the surname moved from its origins in Germany to these states.
Overall, the Birck surname is widely distributed throughout Germany and the United States, making it a common surname today.
Variations of the surname Birck
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Birck include: Birk, Birke, Birkel, Birkholz, Birken, Birkmann, Birkenhagen, Berck, Berckmoes, Berckel, Berckholz, Burk, Burkhart, Burkhoff, Berk, Burks, Berch, Bercks, Berckes, Breck, Bircke, Bircks, Brech, Brechts, Breek, Buries, and Byrck.
Birk is the German version of Birck, and several of the other variants and surnames are simply variations on this German version. The surnames Birken and Burkhart are derived from Birkenhagen and Burkhoff, which are terms derived from the German word "birken" which means "birchwood." The surname Berck is derived from the Dutch given name "Berend," which means "bold bear." Burks is derived from the French surname "Burc," which is derived from the Germanic given name Burchard. Breck likely comes from the earlier form of the Old English given name, Breca, which means "fortified place." Buries is derived from the old German given name, Burgus, which means "fortress defender."
Bircke and Bircks are derived from the German word Birke, which means "birch tree," and the surname Byrck is derived from the Dutch given name "Burchard," which means "strong defender." Lastly, Brechts is derived from the old German given name, Brecht, meaning "bright," and Breek is derived from the Dutch given name, Brechje, meaning "shining brave."
Famous people with the name Birck
- Axel Birck: Swedish businessman and former CEO of Svenska Handelsbanken
- Holger Birck: Danish composer
- Jack Birck: American politician
- Jonas Birck: Danish actor and instructor
- Mathias Birck: German Youtuber and author
- Neils Birck: Danish film director
- Otto Birck: German railway engineer and entrepreneur
- Richard Birck: Swedish actor and art director
- Rost Birck: Danish actor
- Solveig Birck: Norwegian-Danish actress
- Steffen Birck: Danish cyclist
- Thymo Birck: Dutch actress
- Tove Birck: Danish writer
- Ulf Birck: Swedish linguist and author
- Ulrik Birck: Swedish actor