A corruption of (De) Burgo, as the name was formerly written, that is, from the fort, castle, hill, or city. This family went from Normandy into England with the Conqueror, and afterward into Ireland with Strongbow.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

BURKE. A hardened pronunciation of Burgh, and equivalent to Borrowes, &iO. See Burgh. The great Irish family are traced to the Anglo-Norm. De Burghs, one of whom settled in Ireland soon after the acquisition of that country by the English monarchs. The name Alfric de Sure, apparently of Saxon origin, appear.s in the Domesd. of Sufiblk. In the H.K. the name of the famous Hubert de Burgh, temp. King John, is sometimes Avritteu De Burk.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.