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
Living On Own Means 183
Cotton Weaver 173
General Labourer 150
General Servant Domestic 123
Dress Maker 120
Scholar 111
Farmer 107
Coal Miner Hewer 90
Cook Domestic 76
Domestic Servant 70
Carpenter 61
Housemaid Domestic 57
Cotton Spinner 41
Butcher 40
Agricultural Labourer 36
Tailoress 34
Coal Hewer 34
School 34
Servant Domestic 33
House Keeper 31
House Maid Domestic 31
Charwoman 30
Dressmaker 30
Laundress 30
Cotton Winder 29

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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