Burks
A surname most often tied to the Irish and Anglo-Norman name de Burgh, with Burks functioning as a later variant or anglicized form.
The #1,278 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 11,218 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Burks is generally treated as a variant of Burke, ultimately from the Anglo-Norman de Burgh, meaning someone from a fortified place or borough. The final -s is often an English surname ending that can reflect pronunciation, pluralization, or later spelling variation rather than a separate root. In Irish and American usage, Burks is commonly understood as a branch form of the Burke surname.
History
The historical note in the supplied sources points to the Irish Burks as coming from de Burgh. In practice, Burks appears mainly as an anglicized spelling variant that spread in English-speaking countries, especially where Burke and its variants were already established. In the United States it is fairly uncommon but well attested.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Burks and Burke are so closely related that many genealogical records treat them as spelling-family variants rather than fully separate surnames.
From the historical record
“EnnEiiu Bunlan, co. BnlT., ibid. EicUna de Cuneo.y, co. Burks. itiid. William Eenlin, m. Soff., U73. A. Ro)^ E)iolrn, CO. Somi., 1 Edw. Ill: 11/7. HiiTKd— John Eaglinir »nd Mwy”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances