I have a unique situation because my ancestors were African Americans with some Native American (Creek or Cherokee) mixed in. I have found them in records as BURT/BIRT/BURK/BURKE. Due to slavery in this country they probably just took a surname which they may not have been able to spell. Also, because the census takers were sometimes practically illiterate, there was much misspelling. At any rate, the final surname has come to be BURKE. This surname could have been taken because some ancestor may have come from Burke County, GA. And, of course, it could have been the surname of a slaveowner. They started out with the name BURT, and there were white BURTs in Putnam County in the early 1800s. My ggrandfather of Putnam County, GA was James BURT b. ca. 1828 m. Anna ??? b. ca. 1840 Children of James and Anna: (All had surname BURKE) Addie, Robert L., Isham, James H. Anna Lou, and Sidney (my grandfather) . There may have been a sibling named Warren also. My grandfather's marriage certificate has his name as BIRT. In Putnam County marriage records from LDS there are several other BIRTs. They may be related to my grandfather, but are not his immediate siblings. My grandfather, Sidney BURKE b. ca. 1876, m. Willie M. Griffin b. 1880 Children of Sidney & Willie M.: Katie, Robert, Ella, Mamie, Alfred, William Sidney (my father). I know this is a can of worms! ==== BURK Mailing List ==== Have you posted your line or query lately? A recently joined cousin may help you make a connection!!!=======================================================