Banks Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Banks Name Meaning: From the Old English word 'banke' & given to people who lived by a hillside

The 's' was added after the main period of surname formation, probably as a patronymic form. Records from the 1200s show a Bankes family seat in Craven, Yorkshire

Discover how your Banks ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Banks Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Banks family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 2,145
Coal Miner 271
Cotton Weaver 164
General Labourer 161
Agricultural Labourer 140
Living On Own Means 123
Dress Maker 123
Domestic Servant 106
Farmer 95
Labourer 90
Living On Her Own Means 78
General Servant Domestic 63
General Servant 58
Farm Labourer 57
Laundress 53
Carpenter 51
Butcher 49
House Keeper 47
Gardener 43
Joiner 42
General Domestic Servant 41
Cotton Spinner 39
Blacksmith 38
Clerk 38
Carter 36

Banks Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Banks 100% 99,494
2 Binks 80% 12,410
3 Bankes 83% 1,654
4 Bancks 83% 722
5 Benks 80% 199
6 Bunks 80% 189

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The surname Banks is the most popular version of all its varients

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