UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a bank or ridge.
In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Banke surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #32,081 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Greenwich and Ryton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Banke is 105 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.1%.
1881 census count
11
Ranked #32,081
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
105 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Banke surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Banke surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 21 | #29,550 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 11 | #32,081 |
| 1891 | historical | 61 | #29,103 |
| 1901 | historical | 21 | #31,686 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Greenwich, Ryton, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Ryton | Durham |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Banke surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Banke, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Banke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Banke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Banke is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Banke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Banke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Banke originated in England in the medieval period, derived from the Old English word 'bancu' meaning 'bench' or 'bank.' It was initially an occupational name for someone who lived or worked near a riverbank or hillside. The name's earliest recorded spelling was found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166 as 'Alanus de la Banke.'
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273 as 'Hugo atte Banke' and the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1317 as 'Adam del Bank.' These early spellings reflect the name's evolution from the Old English 'bancu' to the Middle English 'bank.'
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Banke, a member of the English Parliament who represented Gloucester in 1395. Another notable figure was William Banke, a wealthy merchant from London who was born in 1480 and served as the Sheriff of London in 1521.
In the 16th century, the name Banke was associated with several prominent individuals, including Sir John Banke (1492-1556), a lawyer and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in England, and Ralph Banke (1525-1591), a Member of Parliament for Taunton in Somerset.
The surname Banke also has connections to various place names in England, such as Bankside in London, which was a prominent theater district in the Elizabethan era, and Bankwell in Somerset, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Bancwelle.'
Other notable bearers of the surname Banke include John Banke (1589-1644), an English clergyman and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Sir Joseph Banke (1654-1726), a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1719.
While the surname Banke is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and is deeply rooted in the English language and culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Banke surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 5 Bankes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 5 | 4.66x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 20.76x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 6.96x |
| Somerset | 1 | 5.79x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 10.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 3 Bankes recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Paddington London | 3 | 76.14x |
| Southwell | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Islington London | 1 | 9.62x |
| Langford Budville | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Potterne | 1 | 2500.00x |
| South Leith | 1 | 61.73x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 11.59x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Banke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Banke surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Banke households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Housemaid (D) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Banke surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Banke a modern rank of #37,599.
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a bank or ridge.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Banke bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.