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

Branks, 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 Branks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Branks in America

Branks is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Branks surname appeared 128 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 Branks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Branks 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 Branks

The surname "BRANKS" is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the 16th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "branc," which means a branch or bough, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near a prominent tree branch or a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "BRANKS" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1379, which mentions a "Willelmus Branks." This suggests that the name was already established in the northern regions of England by the late 14th century.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1428, which lists a "Robertus Branks." This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of England by this time.

The Branks family is believed to have originated from the village of Brank, located in the parish of Brancepeth, County Durham. This place name is derived from the Old English words "branc" and "peth," meaning a branch or bough path, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical roots.

Notable individuals with the surname "BRANKS" throughout history include:

1. John Branks (c. 1570-1644), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Worcester from 1633 until his death.

2. William Branks (1776-1854), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Military General Service Medal for his service.

3. Elizabeth Branks (1820-1892), a British author and poet who published several collections of poetry and prose during the Victorian era.

4. Thomas Branks (1867-1941), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1908 to 1919.

5. Margaret Branks (1892-1976), an American artist known for her landscape paintings and portraits, many of which are housed in notable galleries and museums across the United States.

While the surname "BRANKS" is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period and is deeply rooted in the geographical and linguistic traditions of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Branks

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

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

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

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