UK surname
A surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "little point" or "peninsula".
In the 1881 census there were 185 people recorded with the Ranken surname, ranking it #13,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #13,506 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Kirkwall and St.Ola and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ranken is 253 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.9%.
1881 census count
185
Ranked #13,506
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
253 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ranken surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ranken surname density by area, 1881 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 | 244 | #8,950 |
| 1861 | historical | 253 | #9,764 |
| 1881 | historical | 185 | #13,506 |
| 1891 | historical | 221 | #13,897 |
| 1901 | historical | 148 | #18,212 |
| 1911 | historical | 119 | #20,535 |
| 1997 | modern | 86 | #28,876 |
| 1998 | modern | 91 | #28,806 |
| 1999 | modern | 88 | #29,287 |
| 2000 | modern | 85 | #29,598 |
| 2001 | modern | 85 | #29,396 |
| 2002 | modern | 77 | #30,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 78 | #30,654 |
| 2004 | modern | 77 | #31,024 |
| 2005 | modern | 71 | #31,816 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 73 | #32,555 |
| 2009 | modern | 77 | #32,553 |
| 2010 | modern | 80 | #32,670 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 79 | #32,966 |
| 2013 | modern | 80 | #33,058 |
| 2014 | modern | 79 | #33,205 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Kirkwall and St.Ola, Edinburgh, Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft and Glasgow. 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 | Melrose | Roxburgh |
| 2 | Kirkwall and St.Ola | Orkney |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft | Northumberland |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ranken 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 Ranken, 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 Ranken surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ranken 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, Ranken 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 Ranken is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ranken, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ranken is of Scottish origin and has its roots in the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the small village of Ranken, located in the Scottish Borders region, near the town of Selkirk. The name Ranken is derived from the Old English word "raun," meaning a bramble bush or a place overgrown with brambles.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ranken can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which contained the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The roll lists a "Walter de Raunken" from the village of Ranken.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Rawnken, Rankin, and Renkyn, in various legal documents and records from the Scottish Borders region.
The name Ranken has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was Sir John Ranken (c. 1520-1585), a Scottish soldier and landowner who served as the Warden of the West Marches, responsible for defending the border between Scotland and England.
Another prominent figure was Gilbert Ranken (1625-1696), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of St. Andrews.
In the 18th century, David Ranken (1734-1810), a Scottish surgeon and anatomist, made significant contributions to the field of medicine and was appointed as the King's Anatomist in Edinburgh.
The name Ranken has also been linked to place names, such as Ranken House, a historic building in the village of Ranken, and Ranken Glen, a picturesque valley in the Scottish Borders.
One of the most notable figures with the surname Ranken in more recent history was Jeremiah Ranken (1828-1903), a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Missouri, which has played a significant role in providing vocational and technical education.
Ranken is a surname that has a rich history dating back to the 16th century and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including military, religion, medicine, and education.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ranken 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. Midlothian leads with 53 Rankens recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian | 53 | 21.46x |
| Middlesex | 25 | 1.36x |
| Surrey | 21 | 2.34x |
| Lancashire | 15 | 0.69x |
| Lanarkshire | 9 | 1.51x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 0.49x |
| Durham | 7 | 1.28x |
| Renfrewshire | 6 | 4.20x |
| Angus | 5 | 2.93x |
| Ayrshire | 5 | 3.62x |
| Inverness-shire | 5 | 9.08x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 2.08x |
| Channel Islands | 4 | 7.32x |
| Stirlingshire | 4 | 5.88x |
| East Lothian | 3 | 12.29x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 0.79x |
| Orkney | 3 | 14.79x |
| Berwickshire | 2 | 8.96x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 1.95x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 2.02x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.27x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 6.00x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 40 Rankens recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.25x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ranken surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 5 |
| Isabella | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Lidia | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Silias | 2 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Christian | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| K. | 1 |
| K.A. | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| M.Jane | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Marie | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rosina | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Teresa | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ranken 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 Ranken households.
FAQ
In 1881, 185 people were recorded with the Ranken surname. That placed it at #13,506 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Ranken a modern rank of #33,304.
A surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "little point" or "peninsula".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ranken 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.