Surname Bourke - Meaning and Origin

Bourke: What does the surname Bourke mean?

The last name Bourke has Irish origins. It was derived from the Gaelic word "Burc," meaning "fortress" or "stronghold." The name was also used as both a first name and a surname since the 12th century, and was most commonly found in the provinces of Connacht and Munster in Ireland.

Bourke is also a well-known sept, meaning a group of people descended from a common ancestor. This particular clan originated from Burke, Count of Galway, a prominent figure in 15th century Ireland who was granted a large area of land surrounding Galway due to his loyalty to the crown. The name was also popular amongst the Burke family of Clanricarde, who were a powerful and influential family during the 16th century.

The Bourke name is still prevalent in Ireland today, as well as in other parts of the world. It is still closely associated with Galway, and the Bourke family is believed to be the oldest surviving Irish clans. The Bourke name is known to be associated with Loyalty, honour and strength, and is a testament to the centuries-old connection between the Irish people and their homeland.

Bourke: Where does the name Bourke come from?

The last name Bourke is an Irish surname derived from the native Gaelic language name of de Burca, meaning “fort” or “owner of the fortress”. It is particularly common in counties Galway and Kerry, as well as in County Mayo and is the most common surname in Kilconnel in County Galway.

The Bourke surname dates back to the 12th century and was introduced to Ireland during the Norman Invasion. It is probably the most common surname borne by the native Irish of this time and family names such as MacMurrough, Kavanagh and O’Neill were of similar importance.

Today, the surname Bourke is still prevalent in Ireland, particularly in the counties mentioned above. It is one of the most common surnames in the country and is recorded as the 40th most popular surname overall. It is estimated that more than 30,000 people in Ireland today bear the last name Bourke.

The Bourke surname is also popular in many other parts of the world. It can be found in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where it is sometimes recorded as Burke. The iconic Australian explorer, Sir Charles Napier Sturt, was a member of the Bourke family.

In conclusion, the last name Bourke has been a popular last name in Ireland for centuries. It is now among the top 40 surnames in the country and is well represented in many other countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Bourke

The surname Bourke has many variants, spellings and related surnames of the same origin. It is an anglicization of the Irish surname "de Bourc", derived from the Norman French name “Bourc” or “Burke”. The surname Bourke is widely dispersed throughout Ireland and Scotland, although it is most unusually associated with County Galway and County Mayo in Ireland.

Variants and spellings include Burk, Bourk, Bourke, de Burgh, Bourgh, Bourghs and Bourgeois.

The medieval surname de Burgh is also related to Bourke, although it has more obscure origins. De Burgh/Borough or Burgo was a Norman French word meaning "a fortified borough". It was the surname taken by the family of Richard de Burgh, who was Justiciar of Ireland in 1225 and responsible for establishing the great Burke dynasty.

Other related surnames include: Bour, Bourgouin, Bourguignon, Bourgeois, Bourges, Bourgess, Borkowski and Berghuis.

Bourke can also be found as a first name, usually if the original Irish forename "de Burc" was given to an individual as a Christian name.

Famous people with the name Bourke

• Una Bourke: The British model and actress is best known for her signature, blue-green eyes and is one of the most recognisable celebrities in the UK.
• ##Jenna-Louise Coleman: This English actress found her fame playing Clara Oswald in the British sci-fi series Doctor Who.
• Paul Bourke: Best known for his work in the mathematical field of scientific visualization, he is a professor at the University of Western Australia.
• Alan Bourke: An Irish-American actor who is most famous for his starring role in the 1981 film Escape from New York, as well as his role in the 1982 film 48 Hours.
• John Bourke: An American historian and a former director of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute.
• Paul Michael Bourke: An Australian physicist who is best known for his pioneering contributions to the fields of computers and mathematics.
• Mary Bourke: A British impressionist best known for her work on Mock The Week and The News Quiz.
• Walter Bourke: An Australian poet best known for his poem “Diary of an Old Soul” which has become a beloved part of Australian literature.
• Moxie Bourke: An Australian singer-songwriter, she is best known for her singles “You Don’t Know Me” and “Game On.”
• Johnny Bourke: An Irish football manager, he was the head coach of the Irish National Football Team between 1996 and 2002.

Other surnames

Bourk