History of your Surname
Get access to Rourke family records.Start a free trial

Rourke Family History

Rourke Name Meaning

Irish (Leitrim): from Ó Ruairc see O'Rourke .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Rorke, Rourk, Rork, Roark, Rorie, Clure, O'rourke, Burke, Roche, Duke

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Rourke family from?

You can see how Rourke families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rourke family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rourke families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 679 Rourke families living in Lancashire. This was about 52% of all the recorded Rourke's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Rourke families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rourke surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Rourke ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Rourke. 25% of Rourke men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Rourke women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rourke were Dock Labourer and Cotton Weaver. .

View Census Data for Rourke | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    25%
  • Builders Labourer
    12%
  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • Dock Labourer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Cotton Weaver
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Rourke family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 81,000 census records available for the last name Rourke. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rourke census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rourke

Passenger Lists

There are 19,000 immigration records available for the last name Rourke. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rourke immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Rourke. For the veterans among your Rourke ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rourke military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rourke family history

Discover More

What is the average Rourke lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Rourke life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Rourke in 1941 was 46, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rourke

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Rourke family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Rourke last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial