UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a money lender, financier, or one who worked at a bank.
In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Banker surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #25,133 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Houghton Conquest, Watford and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Banker is 662 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.7%.
1881 census count
60
Ranked #25,133
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1861
662 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Banker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Banker surname density by area, 1911 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 | 177 | #11,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 662 | #4,050 |
| 1881 | historical | 60 | #25,133 |
| 1891 | historical | 364 | #9,538 |
| 1901 | historical | 137 | #19,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 148 | #18,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 29 | #36,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 39 | #35,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 42 | #35,350 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Houghton Conquest, Watford, Manchester, Lambeth and Brighton. 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 | Houghton Conquest | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | Watford | Hertfordshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Banker 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 Banker, 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 Banker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Banker 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, Banker 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 Banker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Banker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Banker is of English origin, derived from the occupation of a banker or money lender. It is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages, specifically in the 13th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a certain Richard le Banker was mentioned. This record suggests that the name was already in use by that time, likely referring to an individual who worked as a banker or money lender.
During the medieval period, banking and money lending were often associated with Jewish communities, as they were one of the few groups permitted to engage in such activities due to religious restrictions on usury. It is possible that some early bearers of the Banker surname may have had Jewish ancestry.
The name Banker can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Bankers Hatch in Hertfordshire and Bankers Hill in Staffordshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their place of origin or residence.
Notable individuals with the surname Banker include John Banker (1540-1610), an English merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers; William Banker (1670-1745), a prominent Quaker from Pennsylvania; and Samuel Banker (1765-1839), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Ohio.
Another noteworthy figure was Sir Edward Banker (1810-1888), a British politician and Member of Parliament. He served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1866 to 1867.
In the realm of literature, the name Banker is associated with Henry Banker (1824-1894), an American writer and journalist who published several works, including "The Haunted Mere" and "Chronicles of a Traveller."
It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as Bancker and Bankert, may have existed in different regions or time periods, reflecting the evolution of surnames and their pronunciation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Banker 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 19 Bankers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.19x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 9 Bankers recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.36x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 9 | 28.36x |
| Brighton | 7 | 34.60x |
| Hendon | 5 | 233.64x |
| Everton | 4 | 17.79x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 4 | 117.30x |
| Buckland Monachorum | 3 | 1153.85x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 20.48x |
| West Ham | 3 | 11.57x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 12.96x |
| Gerrans | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Islington London | 2 | 3.47x |
| Kingsbury | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Runcorn | 2 | 66.01x |
| Cadder | 1 | 70.42x |
| Clapham | 1 | 13.44x |
| Govan | 1 | 2.10x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.02x |
| Lidford | 1 | 178.57x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 1 | 39.84x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 13.11x |
| Penge | 1 | 26.32x |
| Portsea | 1 | 4.19x |
| Romford | 1 | 53.76x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 3.88x |
| St Paul Covent Garden | 1 | 166.67x |
| Totnes | 1 | 138.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Banker 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 Banker 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 Banker households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| Carter | 2 |
| Errand Boy | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Labs Wife | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Bell Hanger | 1 |
| Bell Hanger Apprentice | 1 |
| Bell Hangers Wife | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Coach Trimmer (Maker) | 1 |
| Coast Guard Boatman (RN) | 1 |
| Coast Guards Wife | 1 |
| Convicted Felon | 1 |
| Fitter (Iron) | 1 |
| Foreman Twiner (Cotton Manuf) | 1 |
| Genl Laborer | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Mechanic Driller | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Potman | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Servant Dom | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Speed Tenter | 1 |
| Stocker In Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Tin Plate Worker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Banker surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Banker a modern rank of #35,224.
An occupational surname referring to a money lender, financier, or one who worked at a bank.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Banker 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.