Find out how popular the last name Ankers is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ankers.

Ankers, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ankers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ankers in America

Ankers is the 77522nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ankers surname appeared 247 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ankers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ankers to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ankers

The surname Ankers originated in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "ancor," meaning "anchorite" or "hermit," suggesting a possible connection to individuals who lived as religious recluses.

The name was initially concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. Early records show variations in spelling, including Anker, Ankers, Anekers, and Aneker, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where a John Anekers is mentioned as a taxpayer. The Ankers family is also referenced in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1424, indicating their presence in the county.

In the 16th century, the Ankers name can be found in the parish records of Rochdale, Lancashire, with the baptism of John Ankers in 1569. Another notable individual was Robert Ankers, born in 1622 in Eccleston, Lancashire, who served as a member of the local militia during the English Civil War.

The name Ankers has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 17th century, Thomas Ankers (1633-1712) was a prominent English clergyman and author, serving as the Dean of Battle in Sussex. His work, "The Inexplicable Doctrine of the Trinity," published in 1693, was a significant theological treatise of the time.

Moving into the 18th century, Samuel Ankers (1714-1799) was a respected English architect and surveyor, known for his work on various buildings in London, including the redesign of the Old Bailey courtrooms.

In the 19th century, Hubert Ankers Underwood (1833-1920) gained recognition as a British artist and illustrator, renowned for his depictions of rural life and landscapes. His works were widely exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries.

Continuing into the 20th century, Ralph Ankers (1901-1987) was a notable English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and represented England in four Test matches against South Africa in the 1924-25 season.

While the surname Ankers has its roots in England, it has also been carried by individuals around the world, reflecting the migration patterns and dispersal of families over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ankers

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ankers.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ankers was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ankers has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ankers was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ankers, please contact us.

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