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

Blanke, 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 Blanke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blanke in America

Blanke is the 22404th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blanke surname appeared 1,149 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 Blanke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blanke 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 Blanke

The surname Blanke is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, derived from the German word "blank," meaning "shining" or "bright." This suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who worked as polishers or burnishers of metal objects.

In its earliest form, the name was often spelled as "Blanck" or "Blanke." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Stadtbuch (city book) of Nuremberg, where a certain Hainrich Blanke is mentioned in an entry dated 1388.

As the surname spread across various regions of Germany, it underwent slight variations in spelling, such as "Blancke" and "Blancken." These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal practices.

During the 16th century, the Blanke surname gained prominence in the northern German city of Hamburg. Records from this period indicate that a merchant named Hans Blanke was involved in the thriving trade between Hamburg and the Hanseatic League cities.

One notable figure bearing the Blanke surname was Johann Blanke, a Lutheran theologian and reformer who lived from 1499 to 1561. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Protestant church in the city of Magdeburg.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Blanke family settled in the Prussian province of Silesia (now part of Poland). Here, the name was sometimes rendered as "Blanck" or "Blank." A prominent member of this lineage was Friedrich von Blanke, a Prussian military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the prestigious Pour le Mérite medal for his bravery.

Another notable figure was August Blanke, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1804 to 1890. He is renowned for his exquisite etchings and engravings, many of which depict landscapes and architectural scenes from various regions of Germany.

As the Blanke surname spread across Europe and beyond, it was adopted by individuals of diverse backgrounds and professions. One such example is Willem Blanke, a Dutch-born composer and musician who lived from 1901 to 1968. He is best known for his contributions to the development of electronic music and his pioneering work with early synthesizers.

While the origin of the Blanke surname can be traced back to medieval Germany, its history is woven into the fabric of various cultures and nations, reflecting the migration patterns and diverse experiences of those who have borne this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blanke

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

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

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

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