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

Banks, 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 Banks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Banks in America

Banks is the 292nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Banks surname appeared 105,833 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 36 people would have the surname Banks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Banks 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 Banks

The surname Banks originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "banc," meaning a hillside, ridge, or slope.

In the early days, the name was often associated with people who lived on or near a hillside or ridge. It was a common topographic surname, indicating the location or physical feature where the original bearer resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "de Banco" or "del Banc." This suggests that the name was already established by the time of the Norman Conquest.

The surname Banks has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Banbury in Oxfordshire and Bamborough in Northumberland. These place names, in turn, may have been derived from the Old English word "banc" or similar variations.

Notable historical figures with the surname Banks include:

1. Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820), an English naturalist and botanist who accompanied Captain James Cook on his famous voyage around the world.
2. Thomas Banks (1735-1805), an English sculptor known for his works inspired by classical antiquity.
3. John Banks (1637-1699), an English author and dramatist who wrote several plays and poems during the Restoration period.
4. Sarah Breedlove Walker (1867-1919), better known as Madam C.J. Walker, an African American entrepreneur and philanthropist who became the first female self-made millionaire in America.
5. Elizabeth Banks (born 1974), an American actress, director, and producer known for her roles in films such as "The Hunger Games" and "Pitch Perfect."

As the surname spread throughout England and later to other parts of the world, various spellings emerged, including Bankes, Bancks, and Banke. However, the core meaning and origin remained rooted in the Old English word "banc" and its association with hillsides or ridges.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Banks

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

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

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

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