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

Dankins, 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 Dankins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dankins in America

Dankins is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dankins surname appeared 111 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 Dankins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dankins 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 Dankins

The surname Dankins has its roots in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "denu," which means "valley," combined with the suffix "-kin" or "-kin," indicating a diminutive form or a familial relationship.

This surname was initially found in areas such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, where many families bearing this name resided. It is thought to have been derived from a place name, possibly referring to individuals who lived in or near a small valley or dene.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dankins can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, where a person named William Denekin was mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been established by that time.

In the 14th century, the Dankins surname appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Johannes Dankyn was listed. This variation in spelling was common during that era, reflecting the evolution of the name over time.

Notably, the Dankins name was also present in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. This ancient document serves as a valuable source for tracing the origins of many English surnames.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Dankins surname throughout history are:

1. Sir John Dankins (1554-1631), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Westbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. William Dankins (1670-1728), a renowned clockmaker and horologist who contributed significantly to the development of timekeeping mechanisms in the 17th century.
3. Elizabeth Dankins (1745-1820), a prominent philanthropist and social reformer in Yorkshire, known for her efforts in establishing schools and improving living conditions for the underprivileged.
4. Thomas Dankins (1812-1887), an influential writer and poet whose works explored themes of nature and the English countryside.
5. Emily Dankins (1867-1952), a pioneering female scientist and one of the first women to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in the early 20th century.

While the Dankins surname may have evolved over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the valleys and denes of medieval England, reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the British Isles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dankins

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

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

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

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