Berke

The Berke Family is represented here by Lord Michael, Seneschal of Berke. The surname is one of the Anglo-Norman names that came to Ireland in the 12th century. The surname Berke is derived from the Old English word "burh," which is derived from the Old German word "burg," the common Germanic word for a fortification. It seems likely that the first family to bear this surname would have lived in or near a prehistoric fort situated on a hill. In the Norman fashion, surnames created from place names or geographic locations were prefixed by "de," which means "from" in French.