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Derk Family History

Derk Surname Meaning

German: variant of Dirk. Compare also Derek and Flemish Derck.

Croatian: nickname from an old spelling of dialect drk ‘race run’.

In North America this surname may also be an altered form of the more common variant Drk.

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 Derk family from?

You can see how Derk families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Derk family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Derk families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 19 Derk families living in London. This was about 83% of all the recorded Derk's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Derk families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Derk 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 Derk ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Derk. 30% of Derk men worked as a Laborer and 37% of Derk women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Derk were Miner and Cook.

View Census Data for Derk | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    30%
  • Truck Driver
    14%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Miner
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    37%
  • Housekeeper
    28%
  • Waitress
    19%
  • Cook
    19%

What Derk family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Derk. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Derk census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Derk

Passenger Lists

There are 293 immigration records available for the last name Derk. 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 Derk immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 602 military records available for the last name Derk. For the veterans among your Derk ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Derk military records

You've only scratched the surface of Derk family history

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What is the average Derk lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Derk life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 1978. The average life expectancy for Derk in 1952 was 70, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Derk

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Derk 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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