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

Ronk, 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 Ronk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ronk in America

Ronk is the 15669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ronk surname appeared 1,863 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 Ronk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ronk 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 Ronk

The surname "RONK" is of German origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Rhineland, where it was likely derived from the Old German word "ronke," meaning "bent" or "crooked." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname referring to a person's physical appearance or perhaps a trade involving bending or shaping materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "RONK" can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the Rhineland region. In a charter dated 1312, a certain "Johannes Ronk" is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction. This provides evidence that the name was already established in the area by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various records from the cities of Cologne and Aachen. For example, a "Henrich Ronk" is listed as a citizen of Cologne in a city register from 1472. Additionally, a "Gerlach Ronk" is recorded as a resident of Aachen in a tax roll from 1487.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name "RONK" spread to other parts of Germany and neighboring regions. In 1587, a "Hans Ronk" is mentioned in a document from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Franconia. Another notable figure was "Johann Ronk," a merchant from Leipzig who is recorded in a trade register from 1612.

As the name became more widespread, variations in spelling emerged, such as "Ronck," "Ronke," and "Ronque." These variations can be found in various historical records from different regions.

One notable individual with the surname "RONK" was "Johannes Ronk," a German scholar and philosopher who lived from 1624 to 1699. He was a professor at the University of Jena and authored several works on logic and metaphysics.

Another significant figure was "Heinrich Ronk," a German artist and engraver who lived from 1788 to 1859. He is known for his intricate engravings of landscapes and architectural scenes, many of which are housed in museums across Europe.

In the 19th century, the name "RONK" also appeared in other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and trade. For instance, a "Pierre Ronk" is recorded as a resident of Paris in a census from 1846, suggesting that the name had spread to France by that time.

It is worth noting that the name "RONK" may have connections to certain place names in Germany, such as the town of Ronkendorf in Saxony-Anhalt, which could have influenced the development of the surname in some cases.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ronk

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

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

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

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