NameCensus.

UK surname

Rank

An occupational surname referring to someone who operated a ring-making machine or worked at such a machine.

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Rank surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, down from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bodmin, Springfield and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Hammersmith and Fulham and East Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rank is 268 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.7%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

2016

268 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rank had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 244 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rank surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rank surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rank 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 160 #17,555
1901 historical 208 #14,760
1911 historical 244 #13,127
1997 modern 247 #15,399
1998 modern 252 #15,584
1999 modern 259 #15,433
2000 modern 244 #16,004
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 248 #15,779
2005 modern 245 #15,857
2006 modern 250 #15,749
2007 modern 251 #15,861
2008 modern 246 #16,247
2009 modern 246 #16,597
2010 modern 261 #16,294
2011 modern 263 #16,058
2012 modern 249 #16,572
2013 modern 264 #16,191
2014 modern 265 #16,247
2015 modern 267 #16,050
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Ranks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bodmin, Springfield, London parishes, Drypool and Ruston, Parva. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Hammersmith and Fulham, East Cambridgeshire, Kirklees and Windsor and Maidenhead. 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 Bodmin Cornwall
2 Springfield Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Drypool Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Ruston, Parva Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 031 County Durham
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 021 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 East Cambridgeshire 009 East Cambridgeshire
4 Kirklees 058 Kirklees
5 Windsor and Maidenhead 011 Windsor and Maidenhead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rank

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rank

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Rank surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rank 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rank is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rank is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rank falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rank is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rank

The surname RANK is of Germanic origin, derived from the Middle High German word "ranc" meaning "slender, lithe, or supple." It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a person who was particularly agile or nimble, possibly a dancer or acrobat. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in regions of present-day Germany and Switzerland.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname RANK can be found in the medieval German epic poem "Nibelungenlied," written around 1200 AD. The name appears in various forms, such as "Ranke" and "Ranken," suggesting its widespread use in that era. Additionally, records from the city of Nuremberg in the 14th century mention individuals with the surname RANK.

In the 15th century, the name RANK appeared in the tax records of the town of Biberach in southern Germany. These records provide valuable insight into the prevalence of the surname in that particular region during that time period. Furthermore, the RANK surname was also found in the records of the University of Heidelberg, indicating its presence among the educated class.

One notable individual with the surname RANK was Johannes Rank (1484-1551), a German physician and botanist who contributed significantly to the study of medicinal plants. Another prominent figure was Johann Rank (1653-1709), a German Baroque painter known for his religious works and portraits.

In the 18th century, Johann Nepomuk Rank (1735-1811) was a renowned Austrian paleontologist and mineralogist who made significant contributions to the field of natural history. His work on fossil plant classification is still recognized today.

Moving forward, Otto Rank (1884-1939) was an influential Austrian psychoanalyst and writer who worked closely with Sigmund Freud. He is best known for his theories on birth trauma and the concept of the "life lie."

The surname RANK has also been associated with notable figures in literature and the arts. For instance, Katharine Rank (1891-1972) was a British novelist and playwright who wrote several successful plays during the early 20th century.

While the surname RANK originated in German-speaking regions, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by individuals and families who migrated to different parts of the world over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rank families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rank 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 71 Ranks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.65x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 71 4.65x
Essex 28 9.20x
Surrey 14 1.86x
Durham 13 2.84x
Cornwall 11 6.31x
Middlesex 9 0.58x
Kent 6 1.14x
Lancashire 3 0.16x
Glamorgan 1 0.37x
Montgomeryshire 1 2.83x
Norfolk 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Springfield in Essex leads with 17 Ranks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1278.20x.

Place Total Index
Springfield 17 1278.20x
Bodmin 9 311.42x
Nafferton 9 1384.62x
Huntington 8 2580.65x
Sculcoates 8 33.04x
Cornforth 7 518.52x
Fordon 7 23333.33x
Cowlam 6 20000.00x
Putney 6 85.47x
Swanscombe 6 254.24x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 25.18x
Little Stanmore 5 1086.96x
Broomfield 4 833.33x
Camberwell 4 4.06x
Croydon 4 9.60x
Great Driffield 4 127.80x
Barnsley 3 19.05x
Chelmsford 3 57.47x
Holy Trinity 3 8.17x
Ruston Parva 3 4285.71x
Southcoates 3 35.38x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 68.65x
Bridlington 2 57.14x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 6.88x
Liskeard 2 68.49x
South Weald 2 76.63x
St Clement Danes 2 80.32x
Thundersley 2 740.74x
Batley 1 6.89x
Beverley St Mary 1 44.84x
Cardiff St Mary 1 6.77x
Earswick 1 1428.57x
Easby In Richmond 1 1666.67x
Eston 1 30.03x
Great Harwood 1 30.21x
Hilton 1 1666.67x
Holkham 1 357.14x
Hornsea 1 103.09x
Kensington London 1 1.17x
Langtoft 1 303.03x
Long Riston 1 526.32x
Machynlleth 1 78.74x
Routh 1 1111.11x
Scarborough 1 7.20x
Sewerby Cum Marton 1 344.83x
Sledmere Cum Croom 1 370.37x
St Marylebone London 1 1.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 10
Mary 10
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Lavinia 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Rachel 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Alicia 1
Alies 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Cathrine 1
Clara 1
Dina 1
Emila 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Winifride 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 10
James 9
John 9
George 6
William 6
Henry 4
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Aurther 2
Charles 2
Edmond 2
Edward 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Chas.E. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Henery 1
Nicholes 1
Robt. 1
Seth 1
Simon 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Rank surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rank surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Rank surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rank surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Rank a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Rank surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who operated a ring-making machine or worked at such a machine.

What does the Rank map show?

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