Surname Pirke - Meaning and Origin

Pirke: What does the surname Pirke mean?

The surname Pirke is of German origin, and it is derived from a Slavic given name. The name Pirke is derived from the first element "birk" meaning “birch tree”, and the second element "e" meaning “runner” or “son of”. This suggests that the bearer of the name was associated with a birch tree—perhaps living near a place known for its abundance of them.

The surname Pirke is most common in medieval Germany and northern Europe. It appears in many different forms in ancient documents, such as Bayer, Birken, Birker, Byker, Byrk, Byerken and Byrken. It is thought that these variants all probably descended from the same source—the given name Pirke.

In contemporary German, the name Pirke is a popular nickname for Pierre (Peter). It is used as a given name for both boys and girls. People with the surname Pirke tend to have strong family ties and are known to be loyal and dependable.

In some cases, the name is associated with well-known historical figures. For example, in medieval Germany, Jon Pirke was a prominent scholar and writer. In the modern world, Hollywood star Johannes Pirke has appeared in many films.

Overall, the surname Pirke is a symbol of strength and longevity. People with the surname Pirke are often described as dependable and reliable. They are rooted in tradition but embrace progress and innovation. It stands for loyalty and good character.

Pirke: Where does the name Pirke come from?

The last name Pirke is currently most common in Germany, although it can also be found across parts of Europe. The name's roots lie in Germany, where it is believed to date back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to have been derived from the Old German phrase "Pirka", meaning "peaceful one".

In Germany today, the last name Pirke is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria and Saxony. Many records date the earliest Pirke settlers back to around the 12th century in Bavaria. Over the centuries, the last name has also spread to nearby areas such as Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, and Northern Italy.

Today, the surname Pirke is not particularly common, although it still exists in parts of Germany. Due to its historic roots in Germany, families bearing the last name abroad, such as in the United States, are likely to have German ancestors.

In modern times, the surname Pirke is less common than it was in the past, but there are still many individuals bearing the name living in Germany and parts of Europe. Outside of Europe, the surname is more rare. In the United States, for instance, the last name Pirke is ranked over 40,000th in terms of population, making it a very rare surname indeed.

Variations of the surname Pirke

The surname Pirke has a few variants, spellings, and other surnames that stem from the same origin.

Pirke is a German surname, perhaps originally from a nickname for someone who was considered to be wise or knowledgeable. Variants of the name include Perke, Purke, Pürke, Pörke, Pöerke, and Pörike.

In other languages, the surname Pirke may be spelled differently. In Dutch, the name is spelled as Pierke. The French spelling of the surname is Périge. In Polish, the name is spelled as Pierke and Pÿerke.

Due to migration of German-speaking people, the surname has spread to various countries, often with slight spelling variations. In the United States, the surname is often spelled as Burke, Berk, Berc, Berge, and Berg; in Scotland, it is often spelled as Perke. In East Africa, the surname has been adopted—often with the spelling Bearch. In South Africa, the surname is often spelled as Burck.

Other surnames deriving from the same origin but with different spellings include Pirck, Pirc, Peak, Piereck, Pieche, Pick, and Pirk.

Famous people with the name Pirke

• Rabbi Moshe ben Yehuda ha-Levi of Muenster: more commonly known as Maharam Mi-Pruzna or Mahara"m Mi-Pirkei, a prominent rabbi and philosopher of the 16th century.
• Shmuel Halevi of Berlin, also known as the Maharam of Pirkei, a renowned rabbi of the 18th century who authored the few responsa as well as commentaries on the Torah.
• Seligman Loeb of Magdeburg, also known as the Maharam of Pirkei, was a German rabbi and collector of responsa in the early 19th century.
• Jakob Emden, also known as Ya'avetz, a prominent rabbi from the 18th century who authored numerous works including the Shev Ya'avetz.
• Adolphe Franck, a French composer and music theorist in the 19th century who wrote the cantata Le Veilleur or La Nuit des Morts, based on the Mishna Pirkei Avot.
• Isaac ben Moses of Vienna, also known as Maharam of Pirkei, was a rabbi and author who lived in the 17th century. He is noted for his book, Ta'amei ha-Mitzvot.
• David Ben Levi, also known as the Maharam Mi-Pirkei, was a rabbi and scholar of the 17th century who authored responsa and is noted for his commentary on the Mishna Pirkei Avot.
• Joel Sirkis, a German rabbi and Talmudic scholar of the 17th century who wrote commentary and interpretations of Mishna Pirkei Avot.
• Shlomo Elyashiv, an Israeli rabbi, author, and posek of the 20th century. He wrote several works, including commentaries on the Mishna Pirkei Avot.
• Yaakov Yehuda Leib Diskin, an Israeli rabbi and posek of the 19th century who wrote commentaries on Mishna Pirkei Avot.

Other surnames

PirkelPirkenseerPirkepilePirkerPirkeypilePirkipilePirklPirkmayerPirkmayr