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
School 1,672
Coal Miner Hewer 141
Private Means 137
Farm Labourer 135
Cotton Weaver 127
Labourer 104
Farmer 98
Dressmaker 96
General Servant (domestic) 94
General Labourer 87
None 79
At Home 69
Clerk 69
Domestic Servant 65
Housekeeper 52
Charwoman 49
House Painter 47
At School 46
Carpenter 46
Carter 46
Scholar 43
Coal Miner (hewer) 43
Butcher 39
Assisting In Business 39
Shop Assistant 39

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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