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

Ankney, 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 Ankney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ankney in America

Ankney is the 15864th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ankney surname appeared 1,834 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ankney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ankney 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 Ankney

The surname Ankney is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "anc" or "ank," meaning a narrow valley or a bend in a river or stream, and the suffix "-ey," which denotes an island or a place surrounded by streams or marshes. This suggests that the name Ankney may have been associated with someone who lived near a winding stream or river valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ankney appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Ankeneye." This document was a survey of landowners commissioned by King Edward I, indicating that individuals bearing this surname may have been landowners or residents in the Oxfordshire region during that period.

In the 14th century, the name Ankney is found in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1332, where it is spelled "Ankenay." This reference suggests that the name may have been present in the Lincolnshire area as well.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Ankney throughout history is John Ankney, a prominent merchant and trader from Bristol, England, who lived in the late 15th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the thriving wool trade and had business dealings with merchants across Europe.

Another early figure with this surname was William Ankney, a landowner and farmer from Leicestershire, England, who was mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524. These rolls were tax records that provide valuable insight into the distribution of surnames and the economic status of individuals during that time.

In the 17th century, the name Ankney appears in parish records from various counties in England, such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Ankney, a yeoman farmer from Wiltshire, who was listed in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662.

During the 18th century, the Ankney surname can be found in various military records, including the muster rolls of the British Army. One such individual was James Ankney, who served as a corporal in the 33rd Regiment of Foot during the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the Ankney surname continued to be represented in various historical records and documents across different regions of England, reflecting the geographical spread and diverse backgrounds of those bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ankney

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

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 Ankney 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 Ankney 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 Ankney was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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