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

Blanker, 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 Blanker surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Blanker in America

Blanker is the 139757th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blanker surname appeared 110 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Blanker.

The history of the last name Blanker

The surname Blanker is believed to have its origins in the Low Countries, particularly in the regions that are now the Netherlands and Belgium. The name appears to have emerged during the Middle Ages, a period rich with the development of surnames as a way to identify individuals more specifically than given names alone. Etymologically, Blanker is primarily derived from the Middle Dutch word "blank," which means "white" or "bright." It could have referred to someone with fair hair or complexion or someone who wore white clothing.

In historical references, the surname Blanker has not been documented as extensively as some more common names, likely due to its specificity and regional concentration. Early records show that the name was found in regions like Flanders and Brabant during the 14th and 15th centuries. A record from 1375 mentions a Willem Blanker in the context of a property dispute in the town of Leuven.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname include a manuscript from 1421, which lists a Jan Blanker as a witness in a legal document from Antwerp. Records from the 16th century frequently document the name in various spellings, such as Blanket, Blancker, and Blanker, reflecting the fluidity of medieval and early modern spelling conventions.

Gerard Blanker, a notable figure in the 17th century, was documented as a merchant in Amsterdam, born in 1623 and an influential member of the Dutch East India Company. He played a crucial role in the trade routes to Asia until his death in 1674. Around the same period, a Pieter Blanker was recorded as a guild member in the city of Ghent, recognized for his contributions to the local textile industry, with birth and death dates approximated around 1610 to 1685.

In the 18th century, a significant figure was Maria Blanker, born in 1720, who became well-known for her philanthropic efforts in the city of Bruges. Her charitable work focused on establishing schools and orphanages, earning her a respected place in the community until her death in 1790.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Jacobus Blanker, born in 1812 in Rotterdam, who became a noted political figure advocating for labor rights and social reforms during the transformative period of the Industrial Revolution. His death in 1879 marked the end of a significant era of social activism within his region.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, Emilie Blanker, born in 1885, made significant contributions to early modernist literature in the Netherlands, publishing influential works until her passing in 1943. Her writings remain part of Dutch literary history, reflecting her engagement with social and cultural issues of her time.

The surname Blanker, with its roots deep in the medieval history of the Low Countries, provides a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural fabric of its origin regions through the contributions and lives of those who carried it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blanker

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Blanker 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.

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

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

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