About the Rourke Surname

If your family name is Rourke, its origin lies with O'Rourke, a long-established Irish surname. In origin, the name means “Descendant of Ruarc”.

Spelling and variants

Before spelling was fixed, O'Rourke was also written Rourke. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. Other spellings include O'Rorke and Rorke.

Family crest and blazon

A coat of arms belongs to a particular family line rather than to everyone named Rourke, so the heraldry linked to O'Rourke is a starting point, not an automatic right.

Want more than a summary? See the Rourke family name pack.