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

Rank, 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 Rank surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rank in America

Rank is the 9716th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rank surname appeared 3,339 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rank.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rank 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 Rank

The surname RANK is of Germanic origin, derived from the Middle High German word "ranc" meaning "slender, lithe, or supple." It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a person who was particularly agile or nimble, possibly a dancer or acrobat. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in regions of present-day Germany and Switzerland.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname RANK can be found in the medieval German epic poem "Nibelungenlied," written around 1200 AD. The name appears in various forms, such as "Ranke" and "Ranken," suggesting its widespread use in that era. Additionally, records from the city of Nuremberg in the 14th century mention individuals with the surname RANK.

In the 15th century, the name RANK appeared in the tax records of the town of Biberach in southern Germany. These records provide valuable insight into the prevalence of the surname in that particular region during that time period. Furthermore, the RANK surname was also found in the records of the University of Heidelberg, indicating its presence among the educated class.

One notable individual with the surname RANK was Johannes Rank (1484-1551), a German physician and botanist who contributed significantly to the study of medicinal plants. Another prominent figure was Johann Rank (1653-1709), a German Baroque painter known for his religious works and portraits.

In the 18th century, Johann Nepomuk Rank (1735-1811) was a renowned Austrian paleontologist and mineralogist who made significant contributions to the field of natural history. His work on fossil plant classification is still recognized today.

Moving forward, Otto Rank (1884-1939) was an influential Austrian psychoanalyst and writer who worked closely with Sigmund Freud. He is best known for his theories on birth trauma and the concept of the "life lie."

The surname RANK has also been associated with notable figures in literature and the arts. For instance, Katharine Rank (1891-1972) was a British novelist and playwright who wrote several successful plays during the early 20th century.

While the surname RANK originated in German-speaking regions, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by individuals and families who migrated to different parts of the world over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rank

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

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

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

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