Explore the Family Name Gerk
The meaning of Gerk
1. North German: variant of Gerke (see Gerken). 2. Slovenian: ethnic name for a Greek, from an old spelling of Grk ‘Greek’. In North America, this surname may also be an altered form of the variant Grk. Compare Grego 4.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gerk in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Gerk" fell slightly between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the name was ranked 50,572nd in prevalence, but by 2010, it had slipped to 53,316th, a decrease of 5.43%. Despite this drop in ranking, the actual number of people with the surname remained constant at 388. This suggests that although the Gerk name became less common relative to other surnames, the actual number of Gerks did not change. The proportion of Gerks per 100,000 people also decreased slightly, from 0.14 to 0.13, representing a 7.14% drop.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,572 | #53,316 | -5.43% |
| Count | 388 | 388 | 0% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.13 | -7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gerk
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows a small shift in the proportion of people with the surname Gerk who identify as White or Hispanic between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, 96.13% of Gerks identified as White, a figure which dropped to 94.07% by 2010. During the same period, the proportion of Gerks identifying as Hispanic rose from 3.35% to 4.64%, an increase of 38.51%. There were no Gerks who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either 2000 or 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.13% | 94.07% | -2.14% |
| Hispanic | 3.35% | 4.64% | 38.51% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |