History of your Surname
Get access to Kerkes family records.Start a free trial

Kerkes Family History

Kerkes Name Meaning

Americanized form of Serbian and Croatian Kerkez: nickname from an altered form of ćerkezi ‘wide brims of sleeves of a shirt’ or perhaps an ethnic name from Čerkez ‘Circassian’ more narrowly ‘Cherkess’. Slovak (Kerkeš): probably an altered form of Kerekeš a surname of Hungarian origin (see Kerekes compare below). Probably also an Americanized form of Hungarian Kerekes (compare 2 above).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Kepes, Kokes, Berkey, Terres, Berke, Kempkes, Kirkes, Perkes, Kertes

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Kerkes family from?

You can see how Kerkes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kerkes family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kerkes families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there was 1 Kerkes family living in Georgia. This was 100% of all the recorded Kerkes's in USA. Georgia had the highest population of Kerkes families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kerkes surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Kerkes ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kerkes. 27% of Kerkes men worked as a Laborer and 30% of Kerkes women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kerkes were New Worker and Laborer. .

View Census Data for Kerkes | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    27%
  • Proprietor
    14%
  • Machinist
    14%
  • New Worker
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    30%
  • Clerk
    30%
  • Nurse
    20%
  • Laborer
    20%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Kerkes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Kerkes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kerkes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Kerkes

Passenger Lists

There are 233 immigration records available for the last name Kerkes. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kerkes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 230 military records available for the last name Kerkes. For the veterans among your Kerkes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kerkes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kerkes family history

Discover More

What is the average Kerkes lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Kerkes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Kerkes in 1958 was 43, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kerkes

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kerkes family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Kerkes last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial