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Burks Family History

Burks Surname Meaning

English (Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire): habitational name from Birks in Cumberworth (Yorkshire) or from a minor place of this name in another county named from Middle English birkes berkes ‘the birches’.

If from Staffordshire the name may be a variant of Birch.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Burks family from?

You can see how Burks families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Burks family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Burks families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 129 Burks families living in Yorkshire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Burks's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Burks families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Burks surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Burks 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 Burks. 35% of Burks men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Burks women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Burks were Bakers Roundsman and Pea Sorter.

View Census Data for Burks | 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
    35%
  • Farm Labourer
    18%
  • Motor Driver
    14%
  • Bakers Roundsman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    4%
  • Pea Sorter
    4%

What Burks family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 77,000 census records available for the last name Burks. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Burks census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Burks

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Burks. 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 Burks immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Burks. For the veterans among your Burks ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Burks military records

You've only scratched the surface of Burks family history

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What is the average Burks lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Burks life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Burks in 1942 was 44, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Burks

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Burks ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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