NameCensus.

UK surname

Bank

An occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked at a bank or slope.

In the 1881 census there were 288 people recorded with the Bank surname, ranking it #9,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 121, ranked #27,399, down from #9,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mitton, London parishes and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Ribble Valley and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bank is 657 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.0%.

1881 census count

288

Ranked #9,988

Modern count

121

2016, ranked #27,399

Peak year

1861

657 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bank had 288 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016, ranked #27,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 657 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bank surname distribution map

The map shows where the Bank surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Bank surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bank over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 377 #6,334
1861 historical 657 #4,081
1881 historical 288 #9,988
1891 historical 473 #7,758
1901 historical 202 #15,010
1911 historical 255 #12,719
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 85 #29,439
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 82 #29,922
2001 modern 69 #31,098
2002 modern 78 #30,601
2003 modern 70 #31,486
2004 modern 72 #31,488
2005 modern 79 #30,950
2006 modern 80 #31,149
2007 modern 86 #30,808
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 90 #31,094
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 121 #27,399

Geography

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Where Banks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mitton, London parishes, Liverpool and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Ribble Valley, Leeds and Blackburn with Darwen. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Mitton Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 006 Pendle
2 Ribble Valley 002 Ribble Valley
3 Leeds 027 Leeds
4 Blackburn with Darwen 018 Blackburn with Darwen
5 Ribble Valley 005 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bank

These lists show first names that appear often with the Bank surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bank

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bank, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Bank surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bank household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bank is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bank is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bank falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bank is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bank, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bank

The surname BANK is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "banke," meaning "ridge" or "hillside." It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, given to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BANK surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Banke" in reference to a landowner in Lincolnshire. This suggests that the name had already become established as a hereditary surname by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the BANK surname was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland. Some early bearers of the name include William del Bank, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230, and Robert del Banke, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332.

As time passed, the BANK surname underwent various spelling variations, including Banck, Bancke, and Banque, reflecting the inconsistencies in English orthography during that period. These variant spellings can be found in various historical records, such as parish registers and tax rolls.

Notable individuals with the BANK surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John Bank (c. 1495-1551), an English judge and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. 2. John Bank (1637-1699), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Middlesex. 3. Sir Joseph Bank (1743-1820), a renowned English naturalist and botanist who accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyages of exploration. 4. Theodor Bank (1808-1841), a German philosopher and writer, known for his contributions to the Young Hegelian movement. 5. Sir Edward Bank (1858-1939), a British civil engineer and Chairman of the London County Council.

The BANK surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Bank Newton in Yorkshire, Bank Hall in Lancashire, and Bank Top in Northumberland. These place names further reinforce the topographic origins of the surname, reflecting the presence of notable ridges or hills in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bank families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bank surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 42 Banks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.52x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 42 1.52x
Middlesex 41 1.47x
Lancashire 35 1.06x
Surrey 19 1.40x
Lincolnshire 18 4.04x
Kent 16 1.68x
Hampshire 13 2.27x
Norfolk 12 2.80x
Essex 8 1.45x
Glamorgan 8 1.65x
Perthshire 6 4.79x
Staffordshire 6 0.64x
Suffolk 6 1.77x
Caernarfonshire 5 4.43x
Cumberland 5 2.08x
Lanarkshire 5 0.55x
Worcestershire 5 1.37x
Durham 4 0.48x
Warwickshire 4 0.57x
Gloucestershire 3 0.55x
Leicestershire 3 0.97x
Midlothian 3 0.80x
Somerset 3 0.67x
Derbyshire 2 0.46x
Northamptonshire 2 0.76x
Shropshire 2 0.83x
Sussex 2 0.43x
Ayrshire 1 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.57x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Devon 1 0.17x
Fife 1 0.61x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.27x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.13x
Renfrewshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 15 Banks recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.61x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 15 14.61x
Beechamwell 12 4000.00x
Blyborough 10 4166.67x
Holy Trinity 10 15.04x
Huncoat 10 1123.60x
Bexley 9 107.02x
Great Grimsby 8 28.26x
Horton In Bradford 8 18.53x
Alton 7 162.41x
St Clement Danes London 7 121.32x
Accrington 6 19.94x
Foulness 6 882.35x
Kensington London 6 3.87x
Perth Middle Church 6 127.39x
Shoreditch London 6 4.96x
Barony 5 2.19x
Bolton By Bowland 5 746.27x
Dummer 5 1351.35x
Llanfair Is Gaer 5 320.51x
Wolstanton 5 17.48x
Cardiff St Mary 4 14.95x
Keighley 4 13.57x
North Cove 4 1818.18x
St Pancras London 4 1.78x
Wales 4 183.49x
Dudley 3 6.77x
Faversham 3 33.04x
Islington London 3 1.11x
Leicester St Margaret 3 3.98x
Penshaw 3 120.48x
Poplar London 3 5.70x
Portishead 3 89.82x
Wold Newton 3 1000.00x
Birmingham 2 0.85x
Colne 2 20.28x
Hampstead London 2 4.60x
Kirkley 2 70.42x
Liverpool 2 0.99x
Ludlow St Lawrence 2 41.75x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 4.28x
North Leith 2 11.57x
Roydon 2 246.91x
Soothill 2 20.02x
St Anne Soho London 2 12.55x
Thornton In Fylde 2 27.62x
Waddington 2 465.12x
Workington 2 14.55x
Worsley 2 9.80x
Abbey 1 3.03x
Ayr 1 10.15x
Barnes 1 17.39x
Bransdale West Side 1 526.32x
Brighton 1 1.05x
Carlton Upon Trent 1 526.32x
Castlerigg St John 1 625.00x
Ceres 1 50.25x
Chelsea London 1 1.19x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 4.76x
Crediton 1 18.18x
Currie 1 43.67x
Derby St Peter 1 7.19x
Easingwold 1 51.28x
Edgbaston 1 4.59x
Great Houghton 1 312.50x
Grindleton 1 169.49x
Hackney London 1 0.64x
Leyland 1 17.36x
Livesey 1 17.21x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.68x
Newington 1 0.97x
Newton 1 3.92x
Penge 1 5.61x
Shadwell London 1 12.80x
Shipley 1 6.97x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.50x
Tonbridge 1 2.91x
West Derby 1 1.03x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.43x
Whistones 1 37.88x
Wigan 1 2.16x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bank surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 10
Alice 6
Margaret 6
Agnes 4
Catherine 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Florence 4
Jane 4
Martha 4
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Minnie 3
Allice 2
Annie 2
Betsy 2
Eliza 2
Frances 2
Hester 2
Miriam 2
Anne 1
Burtha 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
G. 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kitty 1
Latitia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1
N. 1
Nancy 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bank surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 20
John 12
James 11
Robert 10
George 9
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Aioma 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Ashton 1
Bowman 1
Canise 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Hannah 1
Hedworth 1
Herbert 1
J.W. 1
Jeremiah 1
Josh. 1
Julius 1
Karl 1
Mark 1
Patrick 1
R. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Bank surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bank surname in 1881?

In 1881, 288 people were recorded with the Bank surname. That placed it at #9,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bank surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016. That gives Bank a modern rank of #27,399.

What does the Bank surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked at a bank or slope.

What does the Bank map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bank bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.