NameCensus.

UK surname

Bankes

A surname derived from a dwelling near a bank or ridge.

In the 1881 census there were 191 people recorded with the Bankes surname, ranking it #13,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 148, ranked #23,958, down from #13,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hartpury, London parishes and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Barnet and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bankes is 263 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.5%.

1881 census count

191

Ranked #13,224

Modern count

148

2016, ranked #23,958

Peak year

1911

263 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bankes had 191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016, ranked #23,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 263 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bankes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bankes surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bankes 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 234 #10,463
1881 historical 191 #13,224
1891 historical 213 #14,269
1901 historical 226 #14,006
1911 historical 263 #12,473
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 177 #19,523
1999 modern 187 #18,999
2000 modern 171 #20,044
2001 modern 177 #19,357
2002 modern 175 #19,902
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 161 #20,840
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 156 #21,399
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 157 #22,271
2010 modern 157 #22,800
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 146 #23,681
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 148 #23,934
2016 modern 148 #23,958

Geography

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Where Bankes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hartpury, London parishes, West Derby, Sefton and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Barnet, Sefton and Barnsley. 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 Hartpury Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Sefton Lancashire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 006 Flintshire
2 Barnet 035 Barnet
3 Sefton 003 Sefton
4 Sefton 023 Sefton
5 Barnsley 010 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bankes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bankes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bankes, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Bankes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bankes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bankes 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

Bankes is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bankes falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bankes 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 Bankes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bankes

The surname Bankes originated in England and is derived from the Old English word "banc," which means "bank" or "ridge." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a bank or ridge. Alternatively, it could have been an occupational name for someone who worked on or maintained banks or ridges.

The name Bankes is believed to have first appeared in historical records in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest documented examples of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror.

In the 13th century, the name Bankes was recorded in various spellings, such as "Bancks," "Banckes," and "Baunkes," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time period.

One notable figure in history with the surname Bankes was Sir John Bankes (1589-1644), an English lawyer and politician who served as Attorney General and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of King Charles I.

Another prominent individual was Joseph Bankes (1767-1853), an English banker and horticulturist who established one of the largest private botanical collections in Europe at his estate in Dorset.

In the 18th century, Sir Joseph Bankes (1743-1820) was a British diplomat and art collector who served as the British Resident in the Netherlands and later as the Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Bavaria.

Henry Bankes (1757-1834) was an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Corfe Castle and Dorset.

More recently, Sir Edward Bankes (1837-1898) was a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia from 1872 to 1876.

The surname Bankes continues to be found in various parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in England, and has also spread to other English-speaking countries through migration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bankes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bankes 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. Cheshire leads with 40 Bankes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.78x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 40 9.78x
Lancashire 39 1.77x
Middlesex 24 1.29x
Yorkshire 23 1.25x
Gloucestershire 11 3.03x
Dorset 8 6.58x
Devon 7 1.81x
Hampshire 7 1.84x
Worcestershire 7 2.89x
Inverness-shire 5 9.03x
Surrey 5 0.55x
Herefordshire 4 5.26x
Flintshire 3 6.02x
Durham 2 0.36x
Warwickshire 2 0.43x
Northamptonshire 1 0.57x
Sussex 1 0.32x
Wiltshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston In Runcorn in Cheshire leads with 13 Bankes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1226.42x.

Place Total Index
Weston In Runcorn 13 1226.42x
St George Hanover Square 12 36.75x
Hartpury 10 1960.78x
Little Leigh 10 3448.28x
Orrell 10 366.30x
Everton 8 11.41x
Bishops Tawton 7 583.33x
Hindlip 7 4117.65x
New Malton 7 318.18x
Christchurch 6 72.82x
Toxteth Park 6 8.06x
York St Mary 6 78.84x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 28.64x
Chester St Oswald 5 67.48x
Cottingham 5 126.26x
Kirkhill 5 531.91x
Runcorn 5 53.02x
Tottenham 5 16.94x
Birkenhead 4 12.27x
Charminster 4 412.37x
Corfe Castle 4 353.98x
Kensington London 4 3.88x
Much Birch 3 909.09x
Southwark St John 3 52.91x
Whitford 3 116.28x
Acton In Northwich 2 526.32x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 5.72x
Hammersmith London 2 4.38x
Litherland 2 43.48x
Liverpool 2 1.50x
North Meols 2 9.29x
Scarborough 2 11.98x
York St Peter Le 2 571.43x
Aston 1 0.78x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.11x
Bodenham 1 178.57x
Chester St Mary On Hill 1 28.49x
Clapham 1 4.32x
Clifton 1 5.44x
Crook Billy Row 1 14.16x
Eston 1 25.00x
Hove 1 7.29x
Northampton St Giles 1 15.06x
Preshute 1 99.01x
St George In East London 1 5.74x
St Michael Winchester 1 129.87x
Stoke 1 108.70x
Streatham 1 7.27x
Warrington 1 3.84x
Winstanley 1 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 5
Ann 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Amy 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Margaret 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Beatrice 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Georgina 2
Kate 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Allison 1
Cecily 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Clemintina 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Gladys 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lillie 1
Lottey 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Macy 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Norah 1
Rhoda 1
Udile 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 8
Robert 6
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Edward 4
George 4
James 4
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Matthew 2
Stewart 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Angelo 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Eldon 1
Eustace 1
Frederick 1
Gerard 1
Gerrard 1
Heyrick 1
Horatio 1
Jerome 1
Jesse 1
Mathew 1
Meyrick 1
Meyriels 1
Miles 1
Ralph 1
Samuel 1
Wynne 1

FAQ

Bankes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bankes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 191 people were recorded with the Bankes surname. That placed it at #13,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bankes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016. That gives Bankes a modern rank of #23,958.

What does the Bankes surname mean?

A surname derived from a dwelling near a bank or ridge.

What does the Bankes map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bankes 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.