Burch is a name of German origin, derived from the Old High German word "burc," which means "fortress" or "stronghold." The name was originally given to people who lived near a fortress or worked as guards in one.
The name Burch has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. It was a popular name among the Germanic tribes and was often used as a personal name, as well as a surname. In fact, many variations of the name exist today, including Burke, Burger, and Burgess, all of which have the same origins.
One famous bearer of the name Burch was Saint Patrick's father, Calpurnius Burch. According to legend, Saint Patrick was born in England and later became the patron saint of Ireland after converting many Irish pagans to Christianity.
Today, Burch is still used as a given name, although it is not as common as some other names of German origin. It remains a strong and distinctive name with a rich history behind it.
The name Burch has seen a varied pattern of usage in the United States over the years, with a total of 161 births recorded between 1913 and 1958.
During this period, the peak years for the name were 1916 and 1924, with 17 and 9 births respectively. Conversely, the name's popularity appeared to wane in certain years, such as 1934 and 1943, when only 5 births were recorded each year.
It is interesting to note that while the name Burch was not exceptionally popular, it maintained a consistent presence over several decades. This can be seen in the fact that at least one birth bearing this name occurred in all but three of the years analyzed (1914, 1926-1929, and 1930-1933).
This data provides an interesting snapshot into the usage patterns of a relatively uncommon name over time.