Clan: Burke
of Ballymoe, Glinsk and Creggs
Other branches of the clan: Bourke, Birk, Bourk, Burk, de Bourg, de Burgh, de Burgo, de Bourgho.
Irish Clan Name: de Burca.
This is not an Irish name, but an Anglo-Norman one, deriving from the medieval French, de Burgh, meaning “of the Borough”.
A borough or burgh was a town important enough to have a town charter granted by the monarchy. The founder of this family was John, Earl of Comyn and Baron Tonsburgh in Normandy, France in the early eleventh century. Baron John was a General and Governor of the northern French port of Caen and this is the “Burgh” referred to in the family name.
Great Houses
For info on Portumna Castle associated with the Burke Clan.