Burke is the surname of a pure-blood[1] wizarding family. They are related to the Black and Flint families.[2] They may be the co-owners of the Knockturn Alley shop Borgin and Burkes, which specializes in Dark artifacts.
Family Members
- Belvina Burke née Black — the only daughter of Phineas Nigellus Black and Ursula Flint
- Caractacus Burke — one of the original founders of Borgin and Burkes
- Elizabeth Burke — a witch with a portrait in the Slytherin Dungeon of Hogwarts Castle who encourages Slytherin students to be "mean to Mudbloods"
- Herbert Burke — husband of Belvina Black
Etymology
Burke is an old English term meaning "to murder by suffocation...for the purpose of obtaining a body to be sold for dissection". It can also be a variant of the British slang term berk, meaning "idiot".[3]
Notes and references
- ↑ Given that Herbert Burke married Belvina Black and that she was not disowned or removed from the Black tapestry for the marriage, it can be assumed that Herbert was pure-blood.
- ↑ Black family tree
- ↑ Wiktionary Definition: Burke