Berk

Berk
This interesting surname is of Germanic and Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a topographical name for a "dweller by the birch tree or wood". The derivation of the name is from the German, "birke", Olde English pre 7th Century "birce", birch tree or wood. The birch tree is characterized by having small leaves, white bark, and a fragrant odour. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages. In the modern idiom the surname has many variant spellings ranging from Barck, Barcke and Barke, to Berk, Bark and Barg. Recordings of the surname from various Church Registers include: the marriage of Hanss and Reineke Bark on September 7th 1628, at Detmold, Lippe, Germany; the marriage of Christina Bark and Peter Schmitt at Birkenfeld, Oldenburg, Germany, on June 7th 1631; and the christening of John, son of Michaell and Ann Bark, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London, on May 27th 1654. The Coat of Arms most associated with the family depicts a gold chevron between three gold crescents on an azure shield, the Crest being an arm from the shoulder issuant holding a spade proper. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Wihlms Aydams Barg, which was dated 1586, witness at the christening of his son, Nicolaus Joann, at Graach, Rheinland, Germany, during the reign of Rudolf 11, Habsburg Emperor, 1576 - 1612. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • berk — berk …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Berk — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Dick Berk (* 1939), US amerikanischer Jazz Musiker Ernst Otto Berk (* 1952), deutscher Brigadegeneral Gerlinde Berk (* 1940), deutsche Politikerin İlhan Berk (1918–2008), türkischer Dichter und Essayist… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Berk — may refer to one of several things:* Berk , a character in the television series The Trap Door * Berk , slang for an idiot * Berk , rhyming slang for Cunt ( Berkeley Hunt )Berk may also refer to * İlhan Berk (1918 2008), a Turkish poet. ee also*… …   Wikipedia

  • berk — [ bɛrk ] ou beurk [ bɶrk ] interj. • v. 1960; onomat. ♦ Interjection exprimant le dégoût. ⇒ pouah. C est dégoûtant. Berk ! berk [bɛʀk] ou beurk [bœʀk] interj. ÉTYM. V. 1960; onomatopée …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • berk — [bə:k US bə:rk] n BrE informal [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: Berkeley hunt, rhyming slang for cunt, originally the name of a fox hunting association] a stupid person ▪ No, you berk, they only do that in films! …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Berk. — Berk. Berkeley Культурология. XX век. Энциклопедия. 1998 …   Энциклопедия культурологии

  • Berk — Berk. bei Pflanzennamen Abkürzung für M. I. Berkeley (s. d. 3) …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • berk — [bʉrk] n. [Brit. Slang] a stupid person; fool * * * …   Universalium

  • berk — bèrk s.m.inv. TS fis. unità di misura del potenziale gravitazionale della Terra {{line}} {{/line}} DATA: sec. XX. ETIMO: etim. incerta …   Dizionario italiano

  • berk — fool, 1936, abbreviation of Berkshire Hunt (or Berkeley Hunt), rhyming slang for cunt but typically applied only to contemptible persons, not to the body part. This is not an objective, anatomical term, neither does it imply coitus. It connects… …   Etymology dictionary

  • berk — is a BrE slang term for a fool. It is not usually regarded as strongly offensive, despite its association, via rhyming slang Berkshire Hunt (pronounced as in AmE), with cunt …   Modern English usage

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