Burke

Burke is a surname of Irish and English origin that is also used as a place name and occasionally as a given name. It is associated with various people, locations, and cultural references, and appears across English-speaking countries.

The surname has multiple origins in the British Isles. In Ireland, Burke is an Anglicized form of Gaelic names and was brought to English-speaking regions through settlement and emigration. In England and Scotland, it has both locational and descriptive roots linked to towns or fortifications.

Notable individuals include Edmund Burke (1729–1797), an Irish-born philosopher, statesman, and political theorist who argued for prudence, tradition, and gradual change. Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France and other writings influenced conservative and liberal thought and shaped debates on society, government, and religion.

There are several places named Burke in the United States, including Burke, Virginia, an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, and Burke County in North Carolina, Georgia, and North Dakota.

Burke's Peerage is a prominent genealogical reference on aristocracy and titled families, established in the 19th century. The name Burke appears in a variety of institutions, businesses, and fictional works, often named after individuals bearing the surname.